Carolina Marín Retires from Badminton Over Knee Injuries

Carolina Marín, the Spanish badminton star and Olympic gold medalist, announced her retirement from professional competition on Thursday, citing recurring knee injuries that made further play too risky. The 32-year-old, who had planned a farewell appearance at the European Championships in her hometown of Huelva next month, shared the news in an emotional video on social media, marking the end of a career that elevated the sport in Spain and beyond.

Marín's decision stems from a series of severe injuries, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during the 2024 Paris Olympics semifinals, where she was leading before collapsing on the court. She played just two more points with a knee brace before withdrawing and could not compete for the bronze medal. This was her third major knee issue: she first ruptured the ACL in her right knee in 2019 and then in her left knee in 2021, forcing her to miss the Tokyo Olympics. "Deep down, I did retire on court in Paris in 2024. We just didn't know it at the time," Marín said in her announcement. Although she received a wildcard for the Huelva event, she chose not to compete. "I would have liked for us to see each other...