Air racing
b. 1920, Pasadena, CA
As a teen-ager, Freeman won the national junior singles tennis championship, but he later decided to concentrate on badminton. He was known primarily as a retriever who returned everything in his early years in the sport, but he later developed a strong attacking game, as well.
Freeman dominated the sport in the U. S. for nearly fifteen years. He was U. S. champion from 1939 through 1942, and in 1947, 1948, and 1953. There was no national championships from 1943 through 1946, so he actually won six in a row. He also won the men's doubles title five times with three different partners, and he was the All-England singles champion in 1949.
His colorful style, darting and whirling around the court to return his opponent's shots, was described by one spectator as resembling a Comanche war dance.
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