Gail Emms - Sunday Times
Author: Sunday Times
Date: 03 Oct 2004
Category: Interviews
What is your earliest sporting memory?
My mum was a footballer who represented England at the World Cup
finals in Mexico. I remember seeing her scrapbook of press cuttings
from the tournament, which has a picture of her smashing the ball into
the roof of the goal
When did you realise you would become a badminton player?
After watching Simon Archer and Jo Goode win bronze at the Sydney Olympics, I just sat in my room and cried. I was so emotional. During university I was out of shape and partying more than I should have done. From that moment, I made a promise to work harder in my career and not waste my talent
What is your most embarrassing sporting memory?
Two years ago in a tournament in Indonesia, I could not find my trainers for my mixed doubles quarter-final match with Nathan Robertson. I had forgotten to pack them after my previous match. Thankfully, I found them in the lost property section before they were chucked away
Do you have sporting heroes?
Venus and Serena Williams, Kelly Holmes and Denise Lewis
Is there anybody else that you admire?
I met Jonny Wilkinson at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. I felt very sorry for him because everybody was hassling him for an autograph
What is your favourite film?
Happy Gilmore and Dirty Dancing
What is your favourite book?
Any Inspector Morse novel
What is your favourite TV programme?
I am a massive Big Brother fan
What would you have done if you had not become a badminton player?
I am nicknamed the ‘drama queen' by my badminton friends, and funnily enough,
I would have liked to become an actress
What is your funniest sporting memory?
Staying in South Korea with the rest of the British badminton team, we all went out for something to eat. We found a tiny restaurant, but the poor waitress could not understand what we were saying. Then, all of a sudden, she said ‘David Beckham'. When we responded, she served us straight away, realising we were English
What was your most memorable moment from the Olympics?
The medal ceremony is still a blur because it was 10 minutes after we had lost the final and I was still gutted. Afterwards, though, in the Olympic village, many people were congratulating me and Nathan, such as Kelly Holmes and Denise Lewis. A few weeks ago, when I was filming Superstars, the former Liverpool footballer John Barnes knew who I was!
Gail Emms is competing with Nathan Robertson in this week's Danish Open on Sky Sports Extra
