Meet Gail Emms - Sports Spy

Filed under Gail Emms - Sports Spy, blog

Welcome to my blog! I will be writing to tell you all about the amazing projects that I am involved with now since retiring from elite sport. Since my last international competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, I have been actively campaigning for school sport, mentoring young athletes and starting a media career in TV and radio as well as becoming a mum to Harry in March 2010.

Sport is my passion and I was fortunate to have a career as a professional badminton player. Along with partner Nathan Robertson, I won the silver medal at the Athens Olympics Games, and then World, Commonwealth and European titles followed suit. It has only been in the last few years that I have been able to look back with a sense of pride and achievement and realise what an incredible journey I have had to get to be the best in the world. I don’t want to rest on my laurels now, but I want to give something back. I want to say thank you to sport for giving me an opportunity to be me.

I have always loved sport and I tried everything and anything as I was growing up. I loved the way I could be competitive, gave me a challenge and I loved being part of a team. My best memories are being part of the school hockey team and singing Tina Turner “Simply the Best” on the coach to matches. I am still in contact with the girls today and try and play hockey whenever I can a sit had such a positive impact. Now sport plays a different role with me. It is about time for me, time to keep healthy, and time to keep fit.

Sport is personal and emotional, not only for me, but for the many women out there that give it a go. It doesn’t matter if you are an elite athlete or a beginner, your individual journey is special to you. Good luck!