Nguyen Thuy Linh's coach retired, even Nadal is concerned.

This Olympic gold medalist could not return after a severe injury in 2024.

Former world number one Carolina Marin officially announced her retirement, concluding one of the most brilliant chapters in world badminton, while also sparking widespread tribute from the international sports community.

In a statement posted on March 26 Vietnam time, the Spanish player stated that a serious knee injury forced her to stop, even though she did not wish to end her career this way. The Olympic champion admitted, after withdrawing from the semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she clearly felt her body's limits and could no longer risk continuing.

"I wanted to say goodbye on the court, but that is no longer possible. Deep down, I retired from Paris, only we didn't realize it then.", Marin shared emotionally.

In a career spanning over a decade, Marin made history by becoming the first non-Asian player to win an Olympic gold medal in women's singles, after defeating PV Sindhu at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She also won three world championships in 2014, 2015, and 2018, first became world number one in 2015, achieved over 500 career wins, and established her status as an icon of European badminton.

Vietnam's number one player Nguyen Thuy Linh once had a notable match against Carolina Marin at the China Masters 2023. Here, Thuy Linh excellently defeated the former world champion in three sets —Marin is also the highest-ranked player Linh has ever beaten.

Immediately after the news was announced, many big names in sports expressed their tribute. Notably, the words from Rafael Nadal—a tennis legend and Marin's compatriot.

"Congratulations on an illustrious career! Respect for your contributions, talent, perseverance, and seemingly impossible achievements in Spain just a few years ago. Enjoy this new chapter!", Rafa wrote.

Familiar opponents and colleagues of the Spanish badminton star, such as Tai Tzu-ying, Viktor Axelsen, and Ratchanok Intanon, all expressed respect for an inspiring career, emphasizing the fierce competitive spirit and unwavering will—a unique flair that Carolina Marin brought to world badminton.

The Spanish Badminton Federation also affirmed that Marin is a rare model, who changed the perception of badminton in the country and inspired many generations of young athletes.