Barcelona: Spain’s 2016 Rio Olympics women’s singles champion – Carolina Marin, who retired from the women’s singles semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to a torn ACL in her right knee, thus, ending her hopes of securing another Olympic medal.
In a recent interview with Badminton Europe, Marin candidly admitted that she is unsure whether she will be able to return to the badminton court in the future.
Carolina Marin’s full interview with Badminton Europe:
Having recovered from potentially two career-ending injuries by tearing both ACLs on her left and right knee, she successfully made a return to the 2024 Paris Olympics, this time with hopes of clinching her second Olympic gold. In the semifinals against China’s He Bingjiao, Marin took the first game and maintained a lead in the second, but disaster struck unexpectedly. She tore the ACL on her right knee which affected her movement, forcing her to retire from the match. She tearfully knelt on the court and, with regret, also withdrew from the bronze medal match.
The former world champion from Spain now faces a long road to recovery after tearing her right ACL. In the interview with Badminton Europe, Marin said this was the heaviest blow of her career and something she never imagined happening. Her initial goal was to bring home the gold for Spain, but fate had other plans. However, she gained a different kind of “gold medal” – the support and love from her fans.
Marin first tore her right ACL in the 2019 Indonesia Masters final. In 2021, she suffered a torn ACL in her left knee. Reflecting on these two severe injuries, Marin confessed, “I don’t know if I can ever play again, or if I can even pick up a racket.” Nevertheless, she has not given up and will continue her rehabilitation, striving to make a comeback.
Below is what she said in the interview:
“Taking advantage of the fact that the Olympics have come to an end, I wanted to share a message with all of you. It’s been several days since that serious injury we all experienced together, and I’m very aware of the impact it’s had. This has been one of the hardest blows of my career—perhaps the hardest of all. I’ve gone through one, two, and now a third knee injury. I never expected this to happen. My intention during this Paris Olympic Games was to bring home a gold medal for Spain, but I couldn’t achieve that. However, without a doubt, I’ve gained another kind of gold medal—a different kind that I’ll explain later. It’s been an incredibly tough experience, especially when you’ve set your sights on a goal, endured grueling training, and made countless sacrifices to chase your dream. Suddenly, everything comes crashing down due to a severe injury—something no athlete ever wants to face.
It all happened that Sunday during the semifinal against China’s He Bingjiao. You all know what happened afterward—the touching gesture from her of taking a Spanish pin to the podium. I never imagined she would do something so thoughtful, remembering me in such a way on that stage. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank He Bingjiao once again for this beautiful gesture, along with the support and the hug she gave me after the match. I wished her the best for the final and sent her all the strength I had because I know it was also tough for her. Losing the first game must have been mentally challenging for her, but winning it the way she did after my retirement due to injury is something no athlete ever wants. It was a tough moment for both of us. Despite everything, she won silver, and I sincerely congratulate her on that well-deserved medal.
As for me, I’m devastated. My soul feels completely shattered. This has been an extremely hard blow, and I know it’s going to take much longer to recover than from my previous injuries. Physically, the surgery went well—I put myself in the best hands, and the doctors assured me that everything went as well as possible, even though this was the most severe knee injury I’ve faced. On the mental side, I need time—perhaps more than ever—because, as I’ve mentioned, my spirit is broken. I don’t know what the future holds for Carolina Marin. I don’t know if I’ll play again, if I’ll pick up a badminton racket, compete in another tournament, or return to the Olympic Games. Right now, that’s the last thing on my mind. What I need most is peace and calm, both physically and mentally.
I also ask that you give me some space during this time, and I’ll be eternally grateful for that. Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for the countless messages of support. I’ve felt your love so deeply, even though it’s been nearly impossible to read every message sent through social media. Your warmth has reached me. I know I didn’t bring home the gold medal that I dreamed of, but in your own way, you’ve given me a gold medal through all your love and support. I know I don’t need to prove anything to anyone; it was something I wanted to prove to myself, but it wasn’t meant to be. Still, from the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful for all the love you’ve shown me, both in person and online.
Now, Carolina needs to surround herself with family, friends, and loved ones, and take it one step at a time. I’m sending a big kiss to all of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
