Carolina Marin’s Olympic Dreams Crushed by Devastating Knee Injury
PARIS – In a heartbreaking turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, former gold medallist Carolina Marin was forced to retire from her women’s singles semifinal match against China’s He Bingjiao due to a knee injury on Sunday.
Marin, who had triumphed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 by defeating India’s P.V. Sindhu in the final, was leading 21-14, 10-6 when she sustained the injury. Despite putting on a knee brace and attempting to continue, the 31-year-old Spanish player was visibly in distress and ultimately had to retire from the match, breaking down in tears.
This injury marks a painful chapter in Marin’s career, as she has previously battled anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in both knees. Her retirement from the match has cast a shadow over what was shaping up to be a remarkable performance.
He Bingjiao will now face An Seyoung of South Korea in the final, following An’s victory over Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the first semifinal. Should Marin recover sufficiently, she is expected to compete against Tunjung in the bronze medal match.
Marin’s injury has sparked a wave of support from fellow athletes. P.V. Sindhu expressed her well-wishes in a heartfelt social media post: “To one of my greatest rivals and dearest friends on the tour, I am sending all the positive energy in the world your way. You were playing a phenomenal match, and I was deeply rooting for you.”
The incident mirrors past Olympic setbacks, such as when China’s Wang Xin injured her knee during the 2012 London Olympics while leading against India’s Saina Nehwal in the bronze medal match. Similarly, in Rio 2016, China’s Li Xuerui suffered an ACL injury in her semifinal match against Marin, resulting in a walkover to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the bronze medal match.
As the Paris 2024 Games continue, fans and competitors alike will be hoping for a swift and full recovery for Carolina Marin, whose resilience and skill have long made her a standout athlete on the international stage.
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