Carolina Marin announces retirement: ‘My path ends here’

It must be remembered that she endured two knee surgeries before almost reaching finals of the Paris Olympics in 2024, when she led He Bingjiao in the semis. Twice her frenetic game where she chased down shuttles with great speed and vim, saw her collapse on the court, as she was never short on effort. Foot speed was am essential component of her game as she took onnthe might of Asia, coming from a country with scant history in the sport.

Mi camino acaba aquí. Gracias a todos, porque también habéis formado parte de ello. En esta nueva aventura llevaré conmigo los valores que me han acompañado hasta ahora e intentaré devolver a la sociedad todo lo que me ha dado en este tiempo. Ha sido un viaje maravilloso ♥️ pic.twitter.com/3aKNDo0Mc4

— Carolina Marín (@CarolinaMarin) March 26, 2026

Back in February Marin had posted about a third surgery on her right knee and first on her left knee. “If matches are battles, these are my war wounds. Every scar holds a lesson, but it also reminds of a hard time,” she said.

“I have lived with pain for many years, now I seek happiness in something that may seem simple but to me means everything – living my day to day without pain in my knees,” she would add. Marin had been into plyometric sessions till March 8, but this comeback seemed to have been one too many. Her latest post three days ago on insta showed her enjoying horse riding innthe company of her partner, and enjoying sunsets and hearty meals.

Nobody has quite emerged from the southpaw’s Spain thereafter either. An animated personality, Marin’s skill was underrated owing to her in-your-face aggression. But apart from her own injury troubles, nobody quite found a way around her from amongst the golden generation.

The 7-time European champion was unparalleled in the continent and can stake claim to being the world’s most successful World Championship shuttler with no one winning more than two World titles except her.

Here’s the full text of Carolina Marin’s retirement message:

“My journey in professional badminton has come to an end, and therefore, I will not be competing in the European Championship in Huelva (her hometown). 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. I have 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.

This journey would not have been possible without every single person who has been part of my team and my family. Thank you for never letting me fall, for standing by my side and supporting me in my toughest moments. Thank you for your unconditional love, for never leaving me. alone and for never letting go of my hand. Thank you as well to my sponsors for not abandoning me and for understanding that behind the image, there is a person.

I wanted the journey to end in Huelva, and in a way, it will. Not with a racket in my hand but in the city where I was born, closing a circle that has lasted so many years. I will be there to give back all the energy you’ve given me throughout this time and to experience an unforgettable week. Because that little girl who discovered badminton and wanted to win everything is now happy and is coming back home. I leave my passion, feeling very proud of everything I have achieved, not just the titles, but earning the respect of the sports world both on and off the court, and helping badminton become recognised, watched, and played in my country. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Now a new chapter begins where I will try to give back all the support I’ve received and continue to stand for the values of sport above all else. Thank you for sharing this incredible journey with me. “