When Carolina Marín He arrived at the Madrid High Performance Center at the age of 14Fernando Rivas asked him how far he wanted to go. “AND She told me that she wanted to be a champion of everything and number 1. She was always a very ambitious girl, but understanding that ambition in an innocent way. because he was not aware of the sacrifices he would have to make,” his coach recalls for MARCA.
In Spain there was no tradition in badminton, a sport traditionally dominated by Asian womenthat’s why Rivas had to innovate with Caro and she, who has always shown blind faith in her team, did her best. “Copying is not the solution because a copy can never be better than the original,” argues the technician. And to overthrow the Asian empire, the key was capacity for effort, reinvention and resilience that the Huelva native has demonstrated for years.
“I don’t think there will be another Carolina Marín, It has been like a drop of water in the desert. This is not just about results, its milestone transcends beyond. It was unthinkable that a Spanish woman would enter a world to which she did not belong and become the most successful in history,” says Rivas. A olympic gold (Río 2016), three world crowns y 8 Europeans they have turned it into the greatest player in history. And, if it had not been for the serious right knee injury in the semifinals of the Paris Gameswe would be talking about a second Olympic medal. “I know what color it would have been. “When I see her like this, I know she wins.”dice.
I don’t think there will be another Carolina Marín; This is not just about results, its milestone transcends beyond
And precisely because of that excellent curriculum and its transmission of values receives today (6:30 p.m.) the Princess of Asturias of Sports 2024.
Carolina Marín is already in Oviedo to receive the Princess Asturias of Sports.
Headstrong, resilient and extremely competitive
Rivas will be with her today at the Campoamor Theater, just like María Martínez, his psychologist since 2018. Carolina’s mental strength has always been highlighted, but she remembers that it is something she continues to work on. “I always value your determinationwhich has become its standard. That’s why identifies with a wolfbecause when he sets his mind to something he goes for it despite knowing what it will cost him in terms of effort and sacrifice. And that quality has helped him not only on the court, but also in the bad moments of his career, such as injuries,” he explains.
“He is a person who, Even though it hurts, he quickly accepts the setback and quickly thinks about what to do to continue.r. And she is willing to fight. She has worked on that strength. She is a wounded wolf capable of healing her wounds and returning. He has proven it. I really like the version he is showing after his last injury. Showing yourself vulnerable is also strength”says Martínez.
I always value his determination, which he has turned into a standard.
Carolina Marín
And that vulnerable part, which has made him connect with people, also stands out Guillermo Sanchezare physical trainer the last eight years. “There comes Carolina, kind, loving, attentive and with the ability to listen. I I prefer that one Caro more humane than the Super Caro, who believes she can do everything. That quality makes her a great athlete but it also makes her risk a lot.“explains Sánchez, who confesses that he sometimes refers to her as Dr. Jekyll y Mr. Hyde because it combines two versions.
“She is very stubbornand if something gets between his eyebrows he doesn’t stop. It is his virtue and his defect. She is an athlete extremely competitiveraised to maximum power. AND His ability to withstand fatigue and effort without collapsing is truly incredible. It stands out for its ability to maintain efforts in the black areas, when you are really tired and your system is struggling. This allows her to do high intensity training in which when another athlete can’t take it anymore, she continues to perform. And it also stands out for the recoverability of your system. It’s amazing how it goes from 180 heartbeats to 60 in one minute. And that allows you to put a lot of workload on them, their nervous system self-regulates very quickly,” he adds.
She is extremely competitive and very stubborn.
He will also be in Oviedo today, just like Carlos de Santos, his physiotherapist. The whole team covering her up. The Wolf Pack. “I highlight his resilience, his ability to always get up when he has a misfortune and do it in the best way possible. Any athlete in his situation would have retired. Only Caro and we know what he has suffered and endured to return, he says.
Everyone on the team is clear that it would have been gold in the Games
“Of the athletes I have treated She is the best and the one I admire the most for her capacity for sacrifice. I’ve already told her. We have seen her suffer a lot to return to her level. In Paris our hearts sank. It was very hard. Everyone on the team ended up crying. It was very hard. “Everyone on the team is clear that it would have been gold in the Games,” he adds, convinced. And today, Princess Valiant, who one day challenged the established order of the Asians and who is now fighting to return to say goodbye on the badminton courts, will receive her crown before the Kings.
