Three-time world champion and 2016 Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin announced her retirement from professional badminton on Thursday, bringing an end to a glittering career.
The 32-year-old Spaniard had not competed since suffering a serious knee injury during her semi-final match against He Bingjiao at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The former world number one had initially targeted a return at next month’s European Championships in Huelva, Spain, but ultimately decided against risking further injury.
“I would have liked for us to see each other one last time on court, but I don’t want to put my body at risk for that,” she said.
“I’ve said it many times and I stand by my decision. I wish my career had ended in a different way, but in life, things don’t always go as we want and we have to accept that.
“Deep down, I did retire on court, in Paris in 2024. We just didn’t know it at the time.”
Marin retired as one of the most successful players of her generation, with a remarkable list of achievements that included seven European crowns, a European Games gold medal and 16 titles on the BWF World Tour and Superseries circuit.
