Lin Dan in action during 2018 worlds Photo: VCG

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was meant to start on July 24 but the coronavirus pandemic saw it postponed until 2021 - almost a year to the day in fact with a new start date of July 23 next year.

While much will stay the same - it will still be called Tokyo 2020, despite the 12-month layoff - there is much that will change, not least that many athletes have called time on their careers because of the delay.

None of them, so far, have been bigger than China's Lin Dan. 

The badminton legend had outlasted his great friend and longtime rival, Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei (whom he led 28-12 in their 40 meetings), and was set to give it one last shot in Tokyo.

Instead, "Super Dan," as he is known throughout the badminton world, has hung up his racquet and the tributes have poured in from across the globe for a man regarded by many as the greatest to have ever played the game.

The 36-year-old would have been going for a third Olympic gold if he went to Tokyo, adding to those he won in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012 - when he became the first and so far only man to retain badminton gold.

"I've dedicated everything to the sport I love," Lin said upon retiring. "My family, coaches, teammates and fans have accompanied me through many happy times and difficult moments. My physical fitness and pain no longer allow me to fight side by side with my teammates."

He had certainly fought side-by-side with them over the years. 

"Super Dan" is the only player to complete the "Super Slam" - winning the Olympics, World Championships, World Cup, Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup, Super Series Masters Finals, All England Open, Asian Games and Asian Championships. There will be no more titles, though.

Lin is not the only one for whom a 15-month delay - the time between the Summer Games postponement was announced and the new 2021 start date - has proved to be too much time.

More may follow over the next 12 months as the toll of training and the impact of the coronavirus on the rescheduled Games become clearer but these are the athletes that have taken the decision to retire already.

Kenki Fukuoka - Japan

Unlike the others on this list, Japanese rugby union star Fukuoka has taken the decision so he can get on with his second career.

Fukuoka always intended to walk away from the sport after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games but he has hastened that during the delay in order to pursue a medical career.

The winger was expected to be a key player for the hosts in the Rugby Sevens event after delighting home fans at the Rugby World Cup in Japan last year.

Japan wowed the world with a run to the quarterfinals and Fukuoka was one of the stars of the show, scoring four tries during the tournament.

Now the 27-year-old, who plays for the Panasonic White Knights in Japan's domestic rugby league, will follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather into the medical ­profession - his father is a dentist and his grandfather was a doctor.

Eddie Dawkins - New Zealand

The three-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist at Rio in 2016 has called time on his cycling career in the interim ahead of the delayed Tokyo 2020.

New Zealand rider Dawkins retired in April, a month after the Games were suspended. He said he "wanted to commit everything I had into one last Olympic campaign with Ethan [Mitchell] and Sam [Webster] for Tokyo 2020" as part of the men's sprint team but the wait was too long.

"To now face a further year on top of that, and with no certainty even then, is a step too far for me," he said.

Tom Ransley - Great Britain

British rower Ransley was an Olympic champion in Rio four years ago as part of the men's eights and was expected to be back for a third Summer Games in Tokyo.

However, the 34-year-old, who also won bronze at his first Olympics in London in 2012, has hung up his oars.

"Rio was very special," Ransley said. "I had a brutal time trying to get myself there, as did the rest of the crew.

"There were some really tough individual journeys along the way and I'm incredibly proud to be in the company of that eight."

Gemma McCaw - New Zealand

New Zealand hockey star Gemma McCaw has decided against a fourth Summer Games and retired ahead of Tokyo. She played 246 times for the Black Sticks with a first Olympics in Beijing in 2008, before twice finishing fourth at London and then Rio.

McCaw, who is married to New Zealand All Blacks rugby union legend Richie, stepped away from hockey after Rio, giving birth to their first child two years later. But she was on the comeback trail ahead of Tokyo.

She had returned to Black Sticks action in February and was on track to make her fourth Games but has since decided to retire for good, despite the fact she will only be 31 when the rescheduled Tokyo Games are set to take place.

"When I came out of retirement to rejoin the Black Sticks last year, I was so excited to be back playing and working towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," she wrote in a lengthy statement on Instagram to announce her decision. 

"No-one could've imagined a global pandemic getting in the way of that dream, but there are things beyond our control. Lockdown taught me many things, but most importantly those seven weeks at home brought into focus just how important family is.

"So, with that in mind, I've made the decision to end my Black Sticks journey here. I am so glad I gave it another shot and I'm proud to have done this as a mum, but I feel it's time now to focus on our family."
Newspaper headline: Dan & Dusted