“It has been harder, these Games were not for me,” said the Olympic champion, who has set the World Cup in Huelva as the date for her return
MADRID, 30 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Olympic badminton champion, Carolina Marín, affirmed that she is going for the gold medal at the Paris Games in 2024, confessed that the serious injury in the left knee crusader that has separated her from Tokyo 2020 has been “harder “than the previous one, and the World Cup was set in his native Huelva as the date for his possible return.
“We are working to come back as soon as possible and stronger. It has not been easy. It has been even harder than with the other injury. To think that two months before the Games the dream is going to waste because of this injury … It is more That assumed. The first days cost me a lot. They have been two complicated years, full of potholes on the road. I am sure that I will overcome this pothole, “she said at Santander Talks with her coach, Fernando Rivas, and the Director of Events and Sponsorships of Banco Santander, Felipe Martín.
One month after her operation, Carolina Marín, who wore a protection on her left knee, has recovered almost 100 percent flexion in the affected ligaments and is beginning to be able to support her foot when walking. “I would love to be able to be for the World Championship in Huelva. I have been lucky because it has been delayed in mid-December and two more weeks is beneficial. For now, I am setting that goal,” said the Huelva-born woman.
Marín tried to draw a positive lesson from this period of injuries. “Sometimes I think that I don’t know if this is good for me. That makes me put on more weight faster. By the third day I was already trying to do my thing. Having lived through the experience of the previous injury I learn to be more patient. Badminton no we have done it because it is my left leg, which is the dominant one. I need to gain more strength, “he explained.
Despite the injury, the Olympic champion trains in double session every day with the horizon of the Paris Games. “Paris 2024? There is no doubt. Since this dream I have not been able to fulfill in Tokyo … Inside this hole in which I found myself now I think that there are only 3 years left and there we will be. Look, I’m stubborn and Since I am not going to get gold at these Games, I want to go for that gold medal in Paris, “he stressed.
The Banco Santander ambassador recalled that her greatest reference is tennis player Rafa Nadal, who has also resigned from Tokyo 2020 and “has suffered and continues to suffer injuries.” “People believe that we are like robots and that is why I have empathized with others to whom the same thing happened. The injury has made me open up a little more,” he admitted.
She stressed that Tokyo 2020 are already “strange and out of the ordinary” Games, although, according to her, fortunately “they are made”. “Many decided not to go for not taking risks. I was clear that I was going to go, but the injury has prevented me. I am going to miss it. I will try to return as soon as possible, hopefully in the World Cup in Huelva,” he insisted.
“LIFE HAS PUT ALL THIS FOR ME AHEAD”
Marín was unable to take advantage of the second chance that the pandemic ‘granted’ him. The postponement of the Games to 2021 allowed him to recover from the previous knee injury (right) and arrive in better shape than for 2020.
On the other hand, the new injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and the two menisci of the left knee while training on May 28 have separated Marín from revalidating the gold of the Rio Games in 2016.
“It has not been easy. I have spent two difficult years: I fell a lot in the ranking, in February my father’s accident happened, a month later, the pandemic, months later my father died, and now … my knee injury Sometimes I think that, perhaps, these Games were not for me. Life has put all this ahead of me, “he summarized.
For this reason, he reiterated that Paris 2024 is now “much more present”, although there are still three years left. “What is closer is trying to reach the World Cup and hopefully we get to the top of the podium,” wished the three-time world champion.
RIVAS: “CAROLINA WILL BE A DIFFERENT PLAYER”
For his part, his coach Fernando Rivas praised that the two-week delay in the start of the 2021 World Cup in Huelva will be “important” so that his pupil can return to the tracks at the highest level. “We will be around those deadlines. Pressure? The pressure is managed quite well. We will decide very close to the championship if it is played or not,” he said.
Rivas recounted how he found out about his player’s injury. “I was in a work meeting preparing the training structure for the Games and they called me twice and I hung up. I saw a wasap that said ‘Urgent’ and I left the meeting. I called Carolina and she was crying on the floor. ‘ I have broken ‘, he told me, “he evoked.
Like his pupil, Rivas tried to find a silver lining to injuries. “She had to learn to be patient and that translated into a change in her game. Maria (the psychologist) is a fundamental piece in the recovery. I am less important now because I cannot throw flyers. I tell her that I do not want to call her all the days because I do not want to be heavy. It will be a different player, “he said.
Regarding the options to get on the podium in the next World Cup in Huelva, from November 29 to December 14 on its new dates, the technician was clear: “We are a team, and if Carolina says she is going to go for gold, no I can contradict it. “
