Carolina Marín, widely regarded as one of the greatest badminton players of all time, a triple world champion and Rio 2016 gold medalist, has announced her retirement from competitive sport at the age of 32. Her decision is driven by the need to prioritize her health, following a severe knee injury sustained during the semi-finals of Paris 2024, which forced her to withdraw from the match and ultimately conclude her illustrious career.
“My journey ends here. I thank all of you, because in one way or another, you have also been a part of this path. In this new chapter, I will always carry with me the values that have guided me so far, and I will strive to give back to society everything it has given me over the years. It has been an extraordinary journey,” Marín shared in an emotional statement.
Although Marín had not competed since her August 2024 injury, she had harbored hopes of making a comeback at the European Championship, slated to be held in her hometown of Huelva, in a stadium named after her. However, she clarified: “I wanted us to see each other on the court one last time, but I am not willing to risk my body further for it.”
Marín had once expressed her desire to conclude her career on the court. “I am fully aware of my decision,” she stated. “I would have wished for my end as a player to be different, but in life, things don’t always go as planned, and one must accept that.” She added that, in a way, she did indeed end her career on the court in Paris, even if “we didn’t know it at the time.”
Had she not suffered this injury, Marín would most likely have triumphed over her opponent He Bingjiao (she was leading 31-19 at the time of the incident) and secured at least a silver medal in Paris.
Among Marín’s myriad achievements, she stands as the only non-Asian female player to win Olympic gold in badminton (at Rio 2016). She also holds the record for the most consecutive weeks as world No. 1, with 66 weeks, and has secured seven European Championship gold medals between 2014 and 2024.