New Delhi, March 26 One of badminton's all-time greats, Carolina Marin, announced her retirement on Thursday due to a persistent knee injury, bringing an end to a glittering career that includes an Olympic gold medal and three World Championship titles.
In a video message shared on her social media accounts, captioned "My journey ends here", the former World No. 1 Spaniard said the recurring injury had forced her to make the difficult decision, opting to prioritize her long-term health over a final appearance on the court.
"My journey in professional badminton has come to an end, and therefore I will not be competing in the European Championships in Huelva," Marin said.
"I wanted to share one last match with everyone, but I don't want to risk my body for that. I have said this many times, and I am consistent with my decision."
Marin shared one of modern badminton's most compelling rivalries with India's two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, with the duo producing several memorable encounters over the years.
She famously defeated Sindhu in the final of the 2016 Rio Olympics and again in the summit clash of the 2018 World Championships.
The 32-year-old was set to compete in next month's European Championships in Huelva, Spain, an event that was meant to mark her farewell on home soil.
"I wish I had gotten the opportunity to end my career in a different way, but sometimes in life, things don't always go the way we want them to, and we have to accept that."
Marin retires with an illustrious record, having won world titles in 2014, 2015, and 2018, seven European crowns, and the Olympic gold at Rio 2016.
Her last competitive appearance came at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a remarkable return after overcoming two anterior cruciate ligament tears in 2019 and 2021.
"In the end, I did retire on the track, in Paris, in 2024, only then did we know," she said.
"Thank you for never letting me fall, for being by my side, and for supporting me in the hardest moments. Thank you for your unconditional love," Marin added.
Although she will not compete in Huelva, Marin said she will still be present at the championships.
"In a way, I will be retiring at Huelva, not with a racquet in my hand, but by giving back all the energy to the city where I was born and to experience an unforgettable week," the Spaniard said.
"I leave feeling very proud of everything I have achieved in the sport. Not just the titles, but also earning the respect of the sports world both on and off the court," she said.
