Iberdrola España honours Carolina Marín's career and legacy at the hall where she began her badminton journey

The athlete was accompanied by young boys and girls who are just starting out in the sport and who were able to hear first-hand about their idol's experiences and enjoy a very special clinic.
Her record is one of the most successful in Spanish history: Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro 2016, three-time world champion (2014, 2015 and 2018), seven-time European champion (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024) and winner of the 2023 European Games.
Beyond her titles, her style, resilience, competitive spirit and leadership have made Carolina a cross-generational role model, whose impact will endure beyond the courts.

Women's sports

Carolina Marín

Iberdrola España, together with Huelva City Council and the Andalusian Badminton Federation (FAB), today paid tribute to the career and legacy of Carolina Marín, in her first public appearance since announcing her definitive retirement from professional badminton on her networks last Thursday, 26 March.

The event took place at the Diego Lobato Hall, the venue where Carolina took her first steps in the sport, and coincided with the European Badminton Championships, currently being held in Huelva with the support of Iberdrola España. The former badminton player was accompanied by young boys and girls from her hometown who are just starting out in the sport and who were able to hear first-hand about their idol's experiences and enjoy a very special clinic with her. On a day steeped in symbolism Carolina made clear the magnitude of the legacy she leaves behind as an athlete and her ability to inspire new generations.

"It has been the most difficult decision of my life. From now on I want to give back to sport everything it has given me over all these years. Picking up a racket at the age of eight in this hall was the best thing I could have done. And 24 years later, beyond the achievements, what stays with me is everything that has helped me grow as a person and as a woman. Now it’s time for me to enjoy my family, return to Huelva more often, listen to my body and in time promote new projects linked to sport. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Iberdrola España for giving me the chance to be here again today and for having supported me for so many years. And to my city, because despite the distance I’ve always felt its affection," said Marín.

Carolina Marín is one of the great figures of Spanish sport and a historic icon of badminton on the global stage. A specialist in the singles discipline, she reached number one in the world rankings and enjoyed an exceptional career in a sport traditionally dominated by Asian players, becoming the greatest European player of all time.

Her list of honours is one of the most successful in Spanish history: Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro 2016, three-time world champion (2014, 2015 and 2018), seven-time European champion (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024) and winner of the 2023 European Games. These achievements not only marked numerous competitive milestones but also redefined Spain's presence among the world's badminton elite.

Throughout her career Carolina Marín also stood out for her resilience. She returned to top-level competition following serious knee injuries that affected her participation in several Olympic cycles, first preventing her from competing in Tokyo and subsequently depriving her of a place in the final in Paris. Her return to the highest level and her commendable competitiveness reinforced her image as a resilient athlete of unbreakable character.

Beyond the titles her legacy is deeply inspiring. Marín transformed the perception of badminton in Spain, boosted the visibility of a minority sport and paved the way for new generations of players. Her style, competitive mindset and leadership have made her a cross-generational role model, whose impact will endure beyond the courts.

Carolina has been part of the Iberdrola Ambassadors programme since 2016, which brings together 35 leading athletes to promote social recognition of women across various sporting disciplines. She has also been a member of the honorary jury for the Iberdrola Supera Awards since the first edition in 2020. Through these awards the company recognises and raises the profile of the best projects launched in Spain to promote gender equality through sport.

Today's event complements the other initiatives the energy company will launch to honour its contribution to sport and society, including the aforementioned sponsorship of the European Badminton Championships and its participation in the official tribute scheduled for Sunday 12 April.

Iberdrola España, a pioneer in promoting equality through women's sport

Since 2016 Iberdrola España has been the main driving force behind women's sport in Spain. It currently supports, through its sponsorship, 35 national federations and lends its name to more than 100 competitions. Through its commitment over the past decade, it has helped increase the number of female members of these federations by more than 80% to nearly 820,000.

The electricity company's support also extends to Paralympic sport. Since its creation in 2005 it has collaborated with the Paralympic Target Sport Support Plan (ADOP) of the Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) with the aim of providing our athletes with the best conditions for their preparation and participation in top-level competitions.

Furthermore Iberdrola España, through its Foundation and in collaboration with the Spanish Paralympic Committee, awards university and postgraduate scholarships to Paralympic athletes benefiting from the ADOP Plan, thereby facilitating their professional training and future integration into the labour market following their retirement from sport.

The company is also one of the organisations collaborating with the Universo Mujer programme, a comprehensive initiative aimed at the development and advancement of women in society through the values of sport.

Iberdrola España honours Carolina Marín's career and legacy at the hall where she began her badminton journey

Iberdrola España honours Carolina Marín's career and legacy at the hall where she began her badminton journey

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