New DelhiOne of the greatest badminton players, Carolina Marin, has announced her retirement due to a chronic knee injury, capping an incredible career that included three World Championship titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Marin defeated PV Sindhu of India in the final to win the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She went on to win three World titles, but the Spaniard ended her career. In a social media video titled "My journey ends here," the former world No. 1 described how persistent injury problems forced her to make the tough choice to prioritize long-term health over one last court appearance.
Marin announces his retirement on social media with a video.Marin said in the video that she is done with her boots and will not be competing in the European Championships. Marin said, "My professional badminton career is over, and I won't be playing in the European Championships in Huelva." "I wanted us to meet one last time on the court, but I don't want to hurt myself." I've said this a lot, and I still stand by my choice.
Marin also had one of the most exciting rivalries in modern badminton with India's P. V. Sindhu. They played each other in many memorable matches over the years. She notably defeated Sindhu in the finals of both the Rio 2016 Olympics and the 2018 World Championships. The 32-year-old was supposed to play in the European Championships in Huelva, Spain, next month. This was supposed to be her last event on home soil. "I wish I could have ended my career differently, but life doesn't always go the way we want it to," she said.
Marin's last time competing was at the Paris Games 2024.With seven European titles, an Olympic gold medal from the Rio 2016 Olympics, and world titles in 2014, 2015, and 2018, Marin retires with an incredible record. After recovering from two anterior cruciate ligament injuries in 2019 and 2021, she made an inspiring comeback with her final competitive appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
"We didn't know it at the time, but I did retire on court in Paris in 2024," she thought. "Thank you for never letting me fall, for standing by me, and for supporting me in the toughest moments," she said in addition to thanking her supporters. I appreciate your unwavering love.
Marin confirmed that she will attend Huelva even though she won't be competing. "In a sense, I'll retire in Huelva—not with a racquet in my hand, but by returning all the energy to my hometown and having an incredible week," she remarked. "I leave feeling really proud of everything I've accomplished in the sport—not just the titles, but the respect I've earned both on and off the court."