Olympic and world badminton champion Carolina Marín of Spain retires

Carolina Marín, one of many biggest ever badminton gamers, retired on Thursday (March 26, 2026) after the Spaniard could not absolutely get better from a 3rd critical knee damage.

Marín, 32, mentioned in a social media put up that “my journey in skilled badminton has come to an finish.”

Marín is the one girl from outdoors Asia to win the Olympic singles when she gained gold at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. She was additionally the primary girl to win three world championships, was ranked No. 1 for a document 66 weeks, and took a document seven European championships.

She has not competed for the reason that 2024 Paris Olympics when she tore the ACL in her proper knee for a second time in the course of the semifinals. She was profitable that match till she collapsed in agony on the courtroom. Marin tried a knee brace however lasted solely two extra factors. She was too injured to play the bronze medal match.

“I really did exit whereas on the courtroom, in Paris in 2024, however we simply didn’t realize it at the moment,” Marín mentioned on Thursday.

She first tore the ACL in her proper knee in 2019. She recovered however ruptured the ACL in her left knee and was unable to defend her Olympic title at Tokyo in 2021.

Marin got here from behind to beat Olympic champion Li Xuerui within the last of the 2014 worlds, retained the title in 2015 and achieved an unprecedented third crown in 2018. She wasn’t match till final 12 months by Akane Yamaguchi.

Marín made the retirement announcement earlier than the European championship to be held in her hometown of Huelva, Spain, subsequent month.

“I needed us to see one another for one final time on the courtroom,” she mentioned, “however not if it meant placing my physique in danger.”