Carolina Marín retires: Olympic champion ends historic badminton career at 32

Spain’s Carolina Marín has announced her retirement from professional badminton, bringing to a close one of the most decorated careers in the sport.

The Olympic Champion 2016 announced her decision 10 days before European Championships at her home town, Huelva. She cited her ongoing injury issues and the necessity to prioritise health.

Marín leaves the game with an outstanding record that includes one Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, three world titles and seven European crowns, establishing herself as the most successful player in European badminton history.

She was a consistent and rare competitor in a sport traditionally dominated by Asians.

Severe knee injuries affected her career repeatedly. She suffered ruptures of the anterior cruciate in her right knee between 2019 and 2020, as well as in her left in 2021. Both injuries involved two menisci.

In spite of these setbacks she won major honours in Paris and Tokyo.

“My journey in professional badminton has ended, so I won’t be taking part in the European Championships in Huelva,” Marín said. “I didn’t risk my health to have one final encounter with you on the court.”

She continued: “Deep inside, I had retired from a court in Paris in 2024. But we didn’t realise it at the time.”

Beyond her titles, Marín is widely regarded as a pioneer who transformed the profile of badminton in Spain.

She expressed her gratitude to the team members, family, and supporters of the team. “This journey would not have been possible without everyone who has been a part of my family and my team.”

Marín concluded by expressing pride in her career and a desire to remain connected to the sport, stating she hoped to continue promoting its values in the future.