Carolina Marin: Healthcare workers are the real heroes, offered my medals

The 27-year-old also talked about her informal conversations with the doctors and the understandings that she gained through it.

Carolina Marin has been in constant touch with healthcare professionals in Spain amidst the duration of the pandemic. In fact, the Spaniard has also declared that she is ready to hand over her coveted medals to those individuals as a matter of gratitude towards their efforts during the coronavirus crisis.

Marin has interacted with the people who are in the frontline in this combat against the COVID-19 virus from the Virgin del Mar hospital in Madrid and Sanitas Cima hospital in Barcelona. In an exclusive conversation with The Indian Express, the Olympic champion expressed her views on this issue. She remarked, “I offered all my medals to them when I was talking to them as they are in fact the real heroes in Spain. They deserve every applause and accolade.”

The 27-year-old claims to have understood the gravitas of the situation through her informal conversations with the concerned professionals. She believes that staying at home, despite the desperation to return to the court, is the only way to assist the people who are leading this resistance and fight against the pandemic.

“It was inspirational. I just wanted to thank them. They are the real heroes for all the effort in taking care of sick people in Spain during these terrible times,” Marin asserted. She further continued, “They did an incredible job and I would like to thank the frontline fighters who risk their lives every day and continue to serve people like us.”

The shuttler has undergone a personal experience in the earlier stages of the outbreak of the virus too. Marin’s father was hospitalized due to an accident in March whilst she was away for the All England. Such instances are bound to have a tumultuous impact upon a sportsperson who is on a tour away from their native country. She returned to Spain and encountered a lockdown straightaway in her hometown Huelva.

Reflecting upon that unpredictable period of time, Marin stated, “The situation was very grim with Covid played havoc with so many dead and life coming to a standstill the world over. These are uncertain times and a tragedy that no one has seen or experienced; right from the lockdown to the fear and the pain of losing people.”

The goal-medalist from Rio Olympics 2016 would have been keen to replicate her performances in Tokyo this year. However, the pandemic means that the mega-competition is delayed to 2021. Regardless of being an immensely successful sportswoman, Carolina Marin will have to adapt back properly to the sport after this ongoing lengthened break and that can possibly determine her outings in the Olympics next year.

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