One interesting development at the Rio Olympics was the emergence of other challengers to China’s dominance in badminton. One of the reasons behind that is Spain’s Carolina Marin. She added the Olympic women’s singles gold to the World titles she won in 2014 and 2015. In an exclusive interview with Dan Williams, she says she is far from finished, and is seeking more titles before the end of the year.

Carolina Marin is an athlete at the top of her game. Double European Badminton Singles Champion Double World Champion and now Olympic Gold Medalist. That latest achievement saw her became the first woman outside of Asia to win the Olympic singles title.

"I was really happy to get the gold medal because it was one of my dream. One of my goals for the season. And I get my reward that I have been practicing really hard," said Carolina Marin.

Q1. You started as the World Champion, so one of the favourites die that put further pressure on you going into the Olympics?

"I don’t think so. Because I train a lot this kind of pressure. I trained. I wanted to win the gold medal. And my preparation was to get this medal."

Q2. You’ve had now this period success. Dominating the sport, what has been the difference for you that led to this period of domination?

"I think because I train really hard every day with goals in my mind, and also because I have a really good team behind me. All of us have an important goal in our mind. And we always think in this goal until we get this."

Q3. What were your expectations going into that Olympic Semi-Final with Li Xuerui?

"I think the key for this game was to show her that she does not have any opportunity to win the game. When we went to the court, I just wanted to show her that she has to be scared. And she was scared to beat me."

Q4. In terms of China’s future, their looking at you thinking how do we get better, how do we beat you. Does that give you further motivation?

"Of course, when I play against Chinese players, it is always difficult and we have to prepare really good all the games. And we have to have a good strategy to beat a Chinese player of an Asian player. Because everyone is difficult."

Q5. In terms of the future, what now for you. You have the World Championships next year but what are the key goals?

"For this season, one of my goals is to qualify for Dubai Super Series. And to win the European Championship again and also the World Championship?"

Q6. It is obviously so difficult to look four years into the future … but is the key goal, the key motivation, Tokyo 2020?

"Yes, but we have to wait for four years. So I want to think this year, and this season, and we will see in the next three seasons what happens."

Marin may have achieved it all in badminton, but she’s still hungry for more.