Carolina Marin, one of badminton’s biggest stars of all time, announced her retirement on Thursday due to an ongoing knee injury. The 32-year-old Spaniard ends a brilliant career that includes an Olympic gold medal and three world championship titles.
In a video message on her social media accounts titled “My journey ends here,” Marin explained that the recurring injury forced her to prioritize her long-term health over her final performance on the court. She confirmed that she will not compete at the upcoming European Championships in Huelva.
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“My journey in professional badminton is over and therefore I will not be competing at the European Championships in Huelva,” said Marin.
“I wanted us to see each other one last time on the track, but I don’t want to put my body at risk for that. I’ve said it many times and I stand by my decision.”
MARIN’S LEGENDARY CAREER
Marin had a notable rivalry with India’s two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, with both players producing memorable encounters. Marin defeated Sindhu in the finals of the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 World Championships.
The European Championship in Huelva, scheduled for next month, was supposed to be Marino’s farewell on home soil. She expressed regret for not ending her career differently, but acknowledged that sometimes things don’t go as planned.
Her career record is illustrious, with world titles in 2014, 2015 and 2018, seven European crowns and Olympic gold from Rio 2016. Her last competitive appearance was at the 2024 Paris Olympicsmarking a remarkable comeback from two ACL tears in 2019 and 2021.
“I ended up retiring on the track in Paris 2024, but we didn’t know then,” Marin said.
Although he will not compete in Huelva, Marin will participate in the championship.
“In a way, I will retire in Huelva not with a racket in my hand, but by giving all my energy back to the city where I was born and having an unforgettable week,” said Marin.
The badminton world was quick to shower Marin with their love, with Viktor Axelsen, Chirag Shetty and others commenting on her video message and showering her with praise.
– The end
Published on:
26 March 2026 21:42 IST
