MADRID, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Spanish badminton star Carolina Marin announced on Thursday that she is retiring from the sport as a result of the serious knee injury which she suffered in the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
"My journey ends here. Thank you all, because in one way or another you have all been a part of it. In this new adventure, I will always carry with me the values that have guided me until now and I will try to give back to society everything it has given me during this time. It has been a wonderful journey," she explained on social media.
The news ends a career that saw the 32-year-old win the 2014, 2015 and 2018 World Championships, as well as the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
She was also a seven-time European champion and topped the world rankings.
"I leave my passion feeling very proud of everything I have achieved. But more than the titles, I am proud of having earned the respect of the sporting world, both on and off the court, and of having made badminton recognized, seen, and practiced in my country," commented Marin.
Her injury came in the Olympic semifinal against Chinese player, He Bingjiao, who honored Marin by wearing a badge of the Spanish Olympic Committee on the podium after claiming a silver medal in Paris.
Marin had said previously that she wanted to compete in the forthcoming European championships in her hometown of Huelva this April, but in the end admitted she was unwilling to put her body at further risk. ■
