Carolina Marin remembers getting up early hours of the morning to watch fellow Spaniards and badminton players Yoana Martinez and Pablo Abian compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
At the time, few considered the Spanish team to be a strong force in the discipline but it fueled Marin’s aspirations to play in the “most important and special event an athlete can compete in.”
Marin went on to bag a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and, in an interview with EFE during the inauguration of the Movistar Academy Magariños in Madrid, said the thought of Tokyo 2020, which has been postponed until next year, is driving her on.
“I know that I will arrive in better form than ever,” she said. “Having got the gold in Rio, I have no doubt that I’m going for another gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.”
Her most recent challenge was to stay fit during the coronavirus lockdown in Spain.
Carolina Marine father passes away
Spanish Badminton Federation (FESBA), Marin’s father passed away in the early hours of Sunday.
“The Spanish Badminton Federation wishes to express its regret at the death of Gonzalo Marin Perez, father of Carolina Marin. After a long period of struggle since he suffered an accident in February, Gonzalo has not been able to overcome the consequences of it, dying at dawn on Sunday, July 26,” FESBA wrote on its website in Spanish.
“The Spanish badminton extends its support to Carolina Marin and all her family in these difficult moments,” it added.
Last month, the 27-year-old Olympic gold medallist had resumed training and her eyes are set on defending her gold medal at the Tokyo Games which have been postponed by an year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
