Carolina Marín, inspired by Nadal, "back at the top of world badminton" after injury nightmares

Anyone would be forgiven for giving up after tearing ligaments in not one but both knees in the span of two and a half years. Even more so if you'd already reached the top of your sport, like Carolina Marín had.

The Spanish star had already won Olympic badminton gold at Rio 2016 and three world titles before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in her right knee in 2019. 

After recovering from that, a second ACL tear – this time in her left knee, to go with a double meniscus tear, right before the rescheduled Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021 – ended her hopes of defending her title in Japan.

And yet, Marín refused to give in. Speaking at a sponsor event on Monday (27 March), the 29-year-old admitted: "I had doubts in the process of coming back and playing at a competitive level. I think that's when you have the most doubts. 

"They are difficult processes. My two injuries were pretty bad, especially the second. But we continued fighting and working towards our objective in mind, most of all the Olympic Games which are in less than a year and a half, and we continue to do so with all the enthusiasm and the will to get to the goal."

One of her inspirations through it all has been fellow Spanish Olympic champion Rafael Nadal, the tennis player who has also struggled with and fought through his share of injuries over the year.

At a recent virtual media session, Marin explained that "he is more an inspiration as a person than an athlete. I always focus more on the person."

Carolina Marín back in top form in latest injury comeback

Marín's latest return has been a successful one. She won the 2022 European Championships on home soil in Madrid on her comeback to top-level badminton, before reaching two further BWF World Tour finals at the 2022 French Open and 2023 Indonesia Masters. Marín's earliest elimination since she came back has been in the second round (round of 16) at three events.

For the first time in years, Marín explained, she no longer feels in pain. Indeed, she believes she's back at her level pre-injuries, ready to contend for more titles and move back into the world top three.

"I've felt it since December (that I'm back to top form)," Marín said Monday. 

"It was a difficult year and a half because of my knees, with pain which was very frustrating as well as the mental side of it. We changed a lot in December, everything possible, and I'm no longer in pain. 

"I'm now living badminton in a different way, I enjoy it a lot more, I endure all the training, and I feel a lot more competitive than before and back at the top of world badminton."

How does she handle the mental side of things, which she admitted had been an issue for her during her injury?

"Above all, I'm working with my psychologist and my team. We always try to deal with my emotions, most importantly. 

"I try not to keep these emotions inside, and instead speak about any doubts, fears, or insecurity with my team."

Carolina Marín looking forward to main goal: Olympic gold again

The world number seven has her sights clearly set on winning a second Olympic gold at Paris 2024.

"I don't know if it's the cycle with the most motivation for me, but it's the most different. My motivation is precisely that it's not such a long cycle, three years in which time is going by really quickly. 

"Now we have less than a year and a half to be at the Olympic Games again, and on top of that in Paris – so close to home."

Her preparations for the Games will likely kick into high gear around two months ahead of the Olympic women's singles tournament, which will run from 27 July to 5 August 2024.

Recalling her build-up to Rio 2016, Marín explained: "I often did a lot of visualisation of special moments of the games, [but also] of doubts, of fears, because in the end we are athletes, but we also are people. 

"Many people believe that we are aliens and that we can handle anything. And no, it's not like that. We are people and we have our emotions, our feelings. Managing all of that has to be worked on a lot."

Carolina Marín: Spain's badminton reference and role model

Before Marín, badminton had very little footprint in Spain. The Huelva native has almost single-handedly changed the perception of – and interest in – the sport with her success.

Asked to reflect on her contribution to the sport's current level of popularity and interest in the country, Marín expressed pride.

"When I was 12 or 13 I went to China and saw people in their 80s playing in parks, or on the street, even in front of the hotel," she remembered. "It gave me much hope to do the same in my country, and it's what we've managed to produce. 

"I'm very happy when I walk my dog in Casa de Campo (a large park in western Madrid) and see a father playing badminton with his children. For me, I feel pride and enthusiasm to have been able to take this sport, which I love and practise the most, [to this point] in my country."

With her position in the sport, the Spaniard has also revelled in being a role model, a status she gained after her Olympic gold. 

While Marín admitted some people crumble under the public eye, she is happy to carry that mantle every day as her ultimate goal of competing at Paris 2024 – and making it back to the top of the podium – gets closer.

"I think it depends on how you manage it. I treat it with a lot of pride being a role model for those boys and girls," she said. 

"Yes, it's something more that weighs on you. You have to bear in mind what you do in public because children take you as a reference, but I'm more than enthusiastic about being an example for them."