Gail Emms

Gail Elizabeth Emms MBE (born 23 July 1977) is a retired English badminton player who has achieved international success in doubles tournaments. A badminton player since the age of four, Emms was first chosen to represent England in 1995 and regularly played for her country until her retirement from professional sport in 2008.

Her best results were winning gold at the 2006 World Championships in Madrid, 2004 European Championships in Geneva, and a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, partnering Nathan Robertson in the mixed doubles. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester she won a bronze medal with Joanne Goode in the women's doubles and won gold as part of the England team in the mixed team event. In the English National Championships she won the mixed doubles three times and the women's doubles twice.

Early life and career Emms and Nathan Robertson reached the semi-finals of 1994 World Junior Championships held in Kuala Lumpur. In 1998 she graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science from Kingston University. After graduating Emms became a full-time professional badminton player with the help of national lottery funded grants paid to her by UK Sport. Her father owned a building firm that collapsed in the recession of the late 1980s leading to a sudden decline in the family standard of living. Her mother, Janice Emms (née Barton), played for the unofficial England women's national football team. Her parents divorced while Emms was in her early teens.

2004 Athens Summer Olympics Emms competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's doubles with partner Donna Kellogg. They defeated Koon Wai Chee and Li Wing Mui of Hong Kong in the first round but were defeated by Zhao Tingting and Wei Yili of China in the second round.

She also competed in mixed doubles with Robertson. They had a bye in the first round and defeated Björn Siegemund and Nicol Pitro of Germany in the second. In the quarterfinals, Emms and Robertson beat Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting of China 15–8, 17–15 to advance to the semifinals. There, they beat Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen of Denmark 15–6, 15–12. In the final, they lost to the Chinese pair Zhang Jun and Gao Ling 1–15, 15–12, 12–15 to finish with the silver medal.

2006 Commonwealth Games The 2006 Commonwealth Games brought Emms a silver in the team event, a bronze in the women's doubles (with Donna Kellogg) and a gold in the mixed doubles (with Nathan Robertson). An additional gold together with Robertson followed at the 2006 IBF World Championships.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Emms participated in the women's doubles with partner Donna Kellogg only to be knocked out in the first round by the Chinese pair Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen. Emms then went on to win her first match in the mixed doubles with Nathan Robertson against the Chinese world number 2 pair. Emms and Robertson won the first game 21–16 before Gao Ling and her new partner Zheng Bo hit back to win the second 21–16. The British duo found themselves 12–17 down in the decider only to recover to win 21–19. Emms and Robertson lost out on a medal at the quarter final stage against the world number 10 pair and eventual gold medalist Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung of South Korea.

Emms retired after the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Later career After 2008 Emms started a portfolio career and has engaged in badminton coaching, motivational speaking, media activities, TV commentary and product endorsements. The latter includes work for SKODA cars and Adidas. Emms has worked as a TV presenter and commentator for the BBC, Sky and BT Sport. She has delivered talks on performance, teamwork and gender issues at events held by many prominent clients including the Ashridge Business School, Sainsbury's and the Thames Valley Police.

In 2013 she was appointed to the Badminton England coaching staff with a remit to develop young female prospects and mixed doubles pairs. But loss of financial support for badminton from UK Sport in 2017 resulted in cutbacks to the coaching programmes which impacted on Emms' position.

Emms has appeared on the sports-based panel show A Question of Sport and is a regular guest on Fighting Talk. On 6 March 2014, she appeared on Sport Relief's Top Dog with her dog Raffa, a Westie. They won their heat, and went on to win the semi-final against Jenni Falconer on 20 March and the final, where they competed against Sally Gunnell.

Personal life Emms was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for services to badminton.

She gave birth to her first child, Harry, in March 2010 and to her second child, Oliver, in May 2013. In 2015 she was living in Milton Keynes with her partner. After retiring as a badminton player in 2008 Emms has periodically suffered from depression. She has spoken about the difficulty many professional athletes have in adjusting to life after retiring from their sport while still young.

Emms is a passionate supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. She participated in the 2017 Great North Run half marathon in order to raise money for SportsAid, finishing in a time of 1 hour and 48 minutes.

Achievements

Olympic Games Mixed doubles

World Championships Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2006 Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain Nathan Robertson Anthony Clark Donna Kellogg 21–15, 21–12 Gold Gold

Commonwealth Games Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2002 Bolton Arena, Manchester, England Joanne Goode Ang Li Peng Lim Pek Siah 4–7, 8–6, 6–8, 4–7 File:Med 3.png Bronze 2006 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia Donna Kellogg Trupti Murgunde Saina Nehwal 21–14, 21–9 Bronze Bronze

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2006 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia Nathan Robertson Daniel Shirley Sara Petersen 21–17, 21–10 Gold Gold

European Championships Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2006 Maaspoort Sports and Events, Den Bosch, Netherlands Donna Kellogg Nicole Grether Juliane Schenk 21–12, 21–10 Gold Gold 2008 Messecenter, Herning, Denmark Donna Kellogg Lena Frier Kristiansen Kamilla Rytter Juhl 18–21, 18–21 Silver Silver

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2002 Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden Nathan Robertson Jens Eriksen Mette Schjoldager 5–7, 3–7, 1–7 Silver Silver 2004 Queue d’Arve Sport Center, Geneva, Switzerland Nathan Robertson Jonas Rasmussen Rikke Olsen 15–3, 8–15, 15–5 Gold Gold 2008 Messecenter, Herning, Denmark Nathan Robertson Robert Mateusiak Nadieżda Kostiuczyk 21–14, 10–21, 6–21 Bronze Bronze

World University Championships Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1996 Strasbourg, France Tracey Hallam Chen Li-chin Tsai Hui-min 12–15, 17–15, 11–15 Bronze Bronze 1998 Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey Sara Hardaker Chen Li-chin Tsai Hui-min Bronze Bronze

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1996 Strasbourg, France Richard Doling Kim Young-gil Choi Ma-ree 7–15, 15–12, 7–15 Silver Silver 1998 Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey Lee Clapham Liang Yongping Liu Lu Bronze Bronze

World Junior Championships Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1994 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Nathan Robertson Zhang Wei Qiang Hong 14–17, 5–15 Bronze Bronze

European Junior Championships Girls' doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1995 Športová hala Olympia, Nitra, Slovakia Ella Miles Natalia Djachkova Ella Karachkova Bronze Bronze

BWF Superseries The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2007 Malaysia Open Nathan Robertson Zheng Bo Gao Ling 12–21, 21–14, 15–21 Runner-up 2007 Denmark Open Nathan Robertson He Hanbin Yu Yang 17–21, 21–19, 17–21 Runner-up BWF Superseries Finals tournament BWF Superseries tournament

IBF World Grand Prix The World Badminton Grand Prix has been sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.

Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2000 U.S. Open Joanne Wright Emma Constable Suzanne Rayappan 15–7, 15–1 Winner 2002 Swiss Open Lotte Jonathans Lee Kyung-won Ra Kyung-min 1–7, 1–7, 1–7 Runner-up 2005 Korea Open Donna Kellogg Lee Hyo-jung Lee Kyung-won Walkover Runner-up 2005 Thessaloniki Grand Prix Donna Kellogg Chor Hooi Yee Lim Pek Siah 17–14, 15–8 Winner 2005 Denmark Open Donna Kellogg Kumiko Ogura Reiko Shiota 6–15, 9–15 Runner-up 2006 Denmark Open Donna Kellogg Kamila Augustyn Nadieżda Kostiuczyk 20–22, 10–21 Runner-up

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2000 U.S. Open Ian Sullivan Jonas Rasmussen Jane F. Bramsen 15–8, 11–15, 13–15 Runner-up 2000 German Open Ian Sullivan Jonas Rasmussen Jane F. Bramsen 3–15, 15–7, 4–15 Runner-up 2001 Dutch Open Nathan Robertson Chris Bruil Lotte Jonathans 7–5, 3–7, 7–3, 7–4 Winner 2001 Denmark Open Nathan Robertson Tri Kusharjanto Emma Ermawati 5–7, 1–7, 4–7 Runner-up 2002 Malaysia Open Nathan Robertson Wang Wei Zhang Yawen 11–9, 11–4 Winner 2002 Singapore Open Nathan Robertson Kim Dong-moon Ra Kyung-min 2–11, 10–13 Runner-up 2003 Thailand Open Nathan Robertson Chen Qiqiu Zhao Tingting 4–11, 11–8, 0–11 Runner-up 2003 Malaysia Open Nathan Robertson Kim Dong-moon Ra Kyung-min 6–15, 5–15 Runner-up 2004 Thailand Open Nathan Robertson Sudket Prapakamol Saralee Thungthongkam 8–15, 15–12, 15–11 Winner 2004 Denmark Open Nathan Robertson Chen Qiqiu Zhao Tingting 4–15, 11–15 Runner-up 2005 German Open Nathan Robertson Lee Jae-jin Lee Hyo-jung 12–15, 14–17 Runner-up 2005 All England Open Nathan Robertson Thomas Laybourn Kamilla Rytter Juhl 15–10, 15–12 Winner 2005 Swiss Open Nathan Robertson Nova Widianto Liliyana Natsir 17–14, 15–6 Winner 2005 Hong Kong Open Nathan Robertson Xie Zhongbo Zhang Yawen 8–15, 5–15 Runner-up 2005 China Open Nathan Robertson Lee Jae-jin Lee Hyo-jung 15–10, 15–10 Winner 2006 Swiss Open Nathan Robertson Robert Blair Natalie Munt 14–17, 15–7, 15–2 Winner 2006 All England Open Nathan Robertson Zhang Jun Gao Ling 15–12, 14–17, 1–15 Runner-up 2006 Singapore Open Nathan Robertson Nova Widianto Liliyana Natsir 16–21, 22–20, 21–23 Runner-up

IBF International Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1995 Welsh International Lotte Jonathans Elena Rybkina Marina Yakusheva 8–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1997 Austrian International Joanne Wright Karen Neumann Nicol Pitro 3–15, 15–10, 8–15 Runner-up 1997 Czech International Rebecca Pantaney Judith Baumeyer Santi Wibowo 9–2, 9–5, 9–1 Winner 1997 Norwegian International Rebecca Pantaney Jane F. Bramsen Christina Sørensen 5–9, 6–9, 2–9 Runner-up 1998 Czech International Joanne Wright Lorraine Cole Tracy Dineen 7–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1998 Irish International Joanne Wright Keelin Fox Sonya McGinn 17–16, 15–10 Winner 1999 Spanish International Joanne Davies Takae Masumo Chikako Nakayama 12–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1999 Welsh International Joanne Wright Irina Ruslyakova Marina Yakusheva 14–17, 14–17 Runner-up 2000 Welsh International Joanne Wright Ella Miles Sara Sankey 6–8, 4–7, 8–6, – Runner-up

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1995 Hungarian International Nathan Robertson Jürgen Koch Irina Serova 6–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1995 Irish International Nathan Robertson Julian Robertson Lorraine Cole 4–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1996 Portugal International Nathan Robertson James Anderson Emma Constable 12–15, 15–13, 18–13 Winner 1996 Norwegian International Julian Robertson Jonas Rasmussen Ann-Lou Jørgensen 9–6, 2–9, 9–5, 9–5 Winner 1997 Czech International Ian Sullivan Henrik Andersson Johanna Persson 11–8, 9–4, 9–3 Winner 1997 Welsh International Ian Sullivan James Anderson Sara Sankey 6–15, 14–17 Runner-up 1998 Czech International Ian Sullivan Anthony Clark Lorraine Cole 4–15, 13–15 Runner-up 1998 Scottish International Ian Sullivan Michael Lamp Mette Schjoldager 10–15, 15–11, 12–15 Runner-up 1999 Portugal International Ian Sullivan Björn Siegemund Karen Neumann 11–15, 15–12, 8–15 Runner-up 1999 French Open Ian Sullivan Chen Gang Qin Yiyuan 12–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1999 Australian International Chris Hunt Michael Keck Erica van den Heuvel 9–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1999 Spanish International Ian Sullivan Fredrik Bergström Jenny Karlsson 7–15, 15–13, 15–10 Winner 2000 Welsh International Anthony Clark Henrik Andersson Johanna Persson 7–4, 7–1, 7–0 Winner 2002 BMW Open International Nathan Robertson Mathias Boe Rikke Olsen 11–9, 3–11, 11–9 Winner

Record against selected opponents Mixed doubles results with former partner Nathan Robertson against Superseries finalists, World Championships Semi-finalists, and Olympic quarterfinalists.

Chen Qiqiu & Zhao Tingting 3–4 Zhang Jun & Gao Ling 4–4 Zheng Bo & Gao Ling 0–3 He Hanbin & Yu Yang 2–1 Xie Zhongbo & Zhang Yawen 3–3 Jens Eriksen & Mette Schjoldager 1–2 Joachim Fischer Nielsen & Christinna Pedersen 1–0 Thomas Laybourn & Kamilla Rytter Juhl 4–3 Jonas Rasmussen & Rikke Olsen 4–1 Michael Søgaard & Rikke Olsen 3–1 Simon Archer & Joanne Goode 1–0 Anthony Clark & Donna Kellogg 3–1 Flandy Limpele & Vita Marissa 2–1 Nova Widianto & Vita Marissa 2–3 Nova Widianto & Liliyana Natsir 4–5 Kim Dong-moon & Ra Kyung-min 0–5 Lee Yong-dae & Lee Hyo-jung 1–2 Robert Mateusiak & Nadieżda Zięba 2–1 Fredrik Bergström & Johanna Persson 1–0 Sudket Prapakamol & Saralee Thungthongkam 6–2