Carolina Marin’s Gold Medal Hopes Dashed After Injury

Carolina Marin’s Olympic journey faced a heartbreaking setback on August 4, 2024 when the Spanish badminton star collapsed during her semi-final match at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena. Marin, who was making a significant comeback after missing Tokyo 2020 due to a severe knee injury was just 11 points away from reaching the Olympic final.

As she landed awkwardly on her surgically repaired knee, her distress became palpable. She fell to the ground, prompting intense concern from both the crowd and her opponent, He Bingjiao of China. At the time, Marin was leading 10-6 in the second game and appeared to be staging an incredible comeback. The crowd watched in anguish as Marin writhed on the floor, her face reflecting both physical pain and emotional heartbreak.

Despite her efforts to continue, she was unable to carry on and collapsed again, overwhelmed by frustration and sorrow. Her coach, Fernando Rivas and the medical team quickly attended to her while the audience and He Bingjiao offered their support. Carolina Marin, who had been playing with impressive determination, eventually stood up to a standing ovation and walked off the court on her own, refusing a wheelchair.

Rivas later shared Marin’s own words, “It’s broken,” indicating the severity of the injury. He Bingjiao expressed deep sadness, reflecting on the unfairness of Marin’s situation and her undeserved exit. Viktor Axelsen, the reigning men’s Olympic champion, also expressed his concern for Marin. He Bingjiao emphasized the emotional difficulty of seeing both a rival and friend in such a state.

After the match, He Bingjiao offered Carolina Marin words of encouragement and wished her a speedy recovery from the setback. Despite her own disappointment, Marin shared a message of perseverance with He Bingjiao. He Bingjiao will compete in the gold-medal match against An Se Young of South Korea.