Carolina Marín was one of the great medal options for Spain. But this brave competitor from Huelva tore the cruciate ligament in her left knee and missed the Olympic event. A sledgehammer. Now, just think about going back. He speaks, in this conversation, of returning to the World Cup that takes place in his land at the end of the year, Paris’24, where he has a clear objective: to win. He also looks back and delves into his origins, how a classmate introduced him to this world. And he confesses his taste for cooking and affirms that, off the track, he is a very different person: “I love being funny.”
-Are you aware that you are going to be the Spanish athlete that we are going to miss the most?
-They have told me a lot, both in interviews, WhatsApp messages, in networks. I really appreciate all the affection, because it is not easy to see on television something that should be living in person.
-You have positioned Spain and Huelva within the world, especially in Asia, in a sport, such as badminton, with a marked tradition in these countries. It feels?
-A huge pride. It means that what I have done not only has results in the form of medals or awards, but goes further. It’s as important to me as winning a tournament, really.
– Badminton is not understood without Carolina Marín. What do you say to children who want to practice this sport and not other more popular ones? And that girl who wants to be like Carolina Marín?
-What I like to convey is that the boys and girls do what they are excited about, what they like and what motivates them. I discovered badminton and my parents gave me the freedom to go my way. Now over the years I realize how fortunate I was to have that support and I would love for all children who are in a similar situation to have it as well.
His origins
-What does “I can, because I think I can” mean?
-It means that believing that you can achieve a goal that you set yourself is the first step to achieve it. Many people think it is an empty phrase, but it is not. It does not mean that we can all achieve anything in life, because it is a lie. But you can hardly achieve anything if you don’t really believe in it.
-How did your life start with badminton?
-Thanks to a friend from school. I accompanied her one day to play in a pavilion in front of my house in Huelva and I liked it. I was struck by the shape of the racket, the shuttlecock. The good thing about badminton is that learning to hit and pass the net is more or less easy, although the difficult thing comes later.
-What was the first thought that came to your head when you got injured? Were you aware of gravity?
-From the first moment. I felt like a creak and knew perfectly well that something serious had happened. In the previous injury I thought that my knee had come off, but in this case I knew what had happened to me because the exact same thing did not happen to me: this time it was not when supporting my leg after a jump, but rather that it stuck to me .
Waiting for surgery
-A week later you have surgery and everything goes very well. Do you learn to handle the situation better the second time?
-In this case, the problem is that almost a week passed between the time of the injury and the operation. It was a long time of waiting and it seemed eternal. Once I had surgery, the feeling was that I was already in the recovery process, although it is somewhat slow. With respect to the previous time I have won in that I know that I have more patience than I thought, although it is going badly.
-We have heard that you have more desire to return than ever. Is the World Cup in Huelva, at the end of this year, your new motivation?
-Yes. The times are very tight, but my team and I are going to do everything possible to get there. The knee is going to be the one that sets the times, obviously, but we are going to do the impossible.
-We have already seen your first steps without crutches, that you are training sitting down. How is your recovery going?
-Slow, but good. The feelings are good and we know that we are taking steps in the right direction.
-Right now, with the Games already underway, if you put your degree of frustration and your degree of motivation on a balance, which way does it lean?
– Right now, in full Games, it is impossible to say that I would not give anything to be in Tokyo, because I know that I was going for the gold. But I also know that I have many people by my side who are with me no matter what happens, and although that does not change the fact that I can not participate, it helps me that the motivation to return and continue my path remains the same.
-Paris is three years away. You stand at 31, still very young. Do we send a message to your rivals? What do you say?
-That just as I went to Rio and went to Tokyo to get gold, in Paris the goal is the same.
-Who is Carolina Marín off the field?
-A different person than the one you see on the track. That tough and aggressive profile is my way of playing, but it is not my way of being. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed on the track, on the other hand, outside I love being funny.
-Inside, you are a very very disciplined athlete, who trains very hard and who handles game patterns like no one else. Is it possible to disconnect at some point?
– The truth is that very little, but I suppose that you also know that. I dedicate myself to badminton six days a week and I have a free one that I usually dedicate to rest, practically, to return the next day to the full. It involves a huge sacrifice, but it’s how I want my life to be.
-What does it mean for Carolina Marín Fernando Rivas?
-Fernando is, right now, the person with whom I have shared the most time in my life. I left Huelva when I was 13 years old and I’ve been in Madrid for 14 years. It has been many things: a second father, coach, friend. But above all it is one of the greatest supports that I have had. I always say that I don’t know if there would have been Carolina Marín without Fernando Rivas.
-We have seen the abandonment of Simone Biles in the Games for psychological reasons. Do you think sports psychology is still stigmatized? Do you empathize with Biles?
-The first thing we should do is give mental health the importance it has, which is a lot. It is good that a reference like her, or as Naomi Osaka already did, speak naturally about the problems they have experienced. No one is less strong for having problems. I also believe that there are people who still do not understand what this means: they do not tell me to compete with a broken knee, but they do require Simone Biles to compete without being mentally fit. I am very sorry that they think that way.
-Correct me if I’m wrong, I have read that you are a decoration lover, tell me about that … And besides, what else is Carolina Marín passionate about?
-I really like to cook, too. Although I don’t have much time, I do like to take advantage of it when I can: with my friends, with my family. And when not, I like to eat in places where I can try new things.
A happy childhood
-Since very little, you leave Huelva to train in Madrid. Was it difficult to make the decision?
-Not for me. But for my parents it was very difficult: Huelva is far from Madrid, I am an only child. But they trusted me and believed in the opportunity that was being given to me. I will never be able to thank you enough.
-What memories do you have of your childhood?
-That of a happy girl. I really enjoyed myself, both in Huelva and in Madrid. There are people who tell me that I have missed many things, but I have also lived experiences that I have only been able to live thanks to what I do.
-What do you feel when you come home?
-Calm. I go little, but when I do it is to rest and disconnect. I see my family, my friends and it helps me to recharge my batteries.
-What has badminton taught you that you will never forget?
-I think it is impossible to say everything I have learned. I’ve been playing for almost as long as I can remember and it has marked me like nothing else. I will not tell you that he has taught me everything, but almost everything.
-What is your greatest award?
-Beyond medals or titles, what we mentioned at the beginning: having made my sport known in our country and that at the same time our country and my city are recognized in the world of badminton.
-If I give you to choose an eraser to erase something from your past or a pencil to continue writing the story of your life … What do you choose?
-The pencil, no doubt. I want to continue writing my story.
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