“For being the best player in the history of badminton in Spainand one of the best in the world. For his extraordinary track record in a sport in which he is an international reference, and for being a example of improvement, source of inspiration and transmitter of valueson and off the track, the jury has awarded the award to Carolina Marin“. Those were the words that the Huelva native heard before receiving the Princess of Asturias Sports Award hand in hand with the Princess Eleanor.
A recognition that has especially moved Marínwho is going through a delicate moment in sports after having to leave the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the semifinals after breaking the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee again.
The seven-time European champion heard a deafening ovation from a packed Príncipe Felipe Auditorium after collecting the award and, with her eyes crystal clear with emotion, she offered it to everyone present, raising it. She was not the only one to be excited to see her collect the award. His mother, Toñi Martín, He could not contain his tears nor his look of pride towards her daughter as she joined in the applause.
Furthermore, Princess Leonor dedicated some emotional words to him during her speech at the ceremony. The heir to the Crown has stressed that “the most important thing” is not the “years of effort, training and great performance” have taken Carolina Marín to “the highest” in badmintonwhich was “very little known” in Spain.
“The most relevant thing is that the value is not only in the medals, even gold, but it is The attitude in the face of adversity and triumph is what defines a great athlete.“, stressed the Princess of Asturias, in reference to the serious injuries suffered by Marín. And she recalled Carolina’s motto that says “I can because I think I can”, on which she concluded: “I assure you that, for those of us who are about to leave adolescence, they are very valuable words”.
