Chinese badminton Olympian praised for heartwarming gesture to injured opponent

He lost to South Korea’s An Se-young 13-21, 16-21 in the final on Monday. The Chinese player wore the silver medal but also held a small pin with the image of the Spain flag in her hands, as a way to show respect to Marin.

A day earlier, He bested Marin by forfeit in the semifinals. After He lost the first set, Marin suffered a knee injury in the second. The 2016 Rio women’s singles gold medalist left the court in tears as He hugged and encouraged her.

Explaining her action of holding the Spain pin, He said she was still heartbroken by what happened to Marin.

“I hope Martin can see this and I wish her a speedy recovery,” He said in the press conference after the final.

The 27-year-old tennis player’s gesture received much praise.

The South China Morning Post said that He Bingjiao had won the hearts of millions of people, with her great sportsmanship on the podium.

“The moment on the podium is one of the loveliest gestures anyone has ever made to me and I will always be incredibly grateful to her,” Marin said in her Instagram post.

On Weibo, the post about He’s gesture has received over 14 million views.

Indonesian player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung won the bronze medal by default, as Marin was unable to compete.

The 2024 Olympic badminton event concluded with China leading the way by winning gold medals in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Taiwanese duo Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin won the men’s doubles, while Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen won his second consecutive men’s singles gold.