Drama at the Olympic Games: a badminton star suffered a serious injury during a match

Spain’s Carolina Marin suffered a knee problem when she was one step away from the final. Follow all the information about the Olympic Games and the results here

Paris’ La Chapelle stadium witnessed a dramatic scene during one of the defining badminton matches at the Olympic Games. What seemed to be a triumph for Carolina Marín against China’s Bing Jiao He in the second semi-final of the women’s singles tournament ended abruptly due to a serious injury to the Spaniard’s right knee.

The incident occurred when Marín was leading the scoreboard with a solid 21-14 and 10-5. In a full-on game, the 31-year-old player jumped to hit the pen and that was when her right leg gave way. “Ouch,” was the first reaction heard in the voice of the Spaniard, who then put her hands to her face with her hands and showed grimaces of pain that indicated the seriousness of the injury.

A few seconds later, her coach Fernando Rivas came over to see his player and was alarmed by the disturbing scene, as were the public and the niacin player in China. After receiving assistance from the medical services, Marín was able to return to the bench with the help of the team and then put on a knee brace.

To the surprise of everyone present, the Olympic badminton champion from the Rio 2016 Games tried to play a few more points, but her attempt was in vain as she was unable to move properly. Once Carolina realized she could not continue, she knelt on the court, held her head and cried inconsolably. The scene was moving and not only resonated on the court, but also impacted the entire stadium, which gave her a standing ovation.

Carolina Marin’s tears after her injury (EFE/EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI)

It is important to note that the career of Carolina Marín, three-time world champion, was marked by several severe injuries. She suffered cruciate ligament ruptures in both knees, with the second preventing her from participating in Tokyo 2020.

“Carolina is devastated,” said Rivas, her coach, once the match was over. “The truth is that we don’t have words to describe how it was. She was getting better and better. It’s very hard,” he added. He then recounted how Marín told him about her injury.

“She looked at me and said, ‘I’ve broken it.’ It’s a feeling she already knows. You have to evaluate the injury, do the tests, be calm and accept what there is,” said the coach. “She told me that it’s not fair, that she didn’t want to end her career like that. Carolina deserved to finish the Olympic Games by competing in them,” Rivas concluded with great sadness in a conversation with the international media.

Olympic champion Bing Jiao He, Marin’s opponent in this match, expressed her sympathy and wishes for a speedy recovery. “It is unfortunate that such a talented opponent should suffer such an injury. I wish her the best and hope to see her back on the court soon,” she said.

Marin’s career is glorious and she became one of the stars of Spanish sport in the last decade. She won seven European championships in addition to her medals at the Olympic Games and the World Badminton Championships. In addition, she received great recognition in her country: she was awarded the Queen Sofia National Sports Award for the best Spanish athlete of the year 2014 and was distinguished with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit (2016). In 2024 she received the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.

Spain’s Marin walked off the court (REUTERS/Ann Wang)