Athletics / Ralph Ellis / 16 April 2009 /

Betfair loves the London marathon and couldn't resist an invitation to join Olympic silver medallist and badminton star Gail Emms on her last training run before next week's big event. (Well, alright, we waited in McDonalds to talk to her when she finished!)

So Hi Gail, how's the training going?

My God, it's like yeeuggggghhhh, that's the best way I can describe it! You watch it on TV every year and it's always a great British event, and next thing I know I'm entered! Then you're running for a charity and there's no backing out because it's not just you anymore, it's all the people who sponsored you and are supporting you.

Sounds like it's not come easy.

It's totally the opposite of everything I've ever done. I'm short, I'm muscly and I'm built like a 100 metre runner. I've spent years developing all these fast twitch muscle fibres to be on the top of my game, I'm sprinting, I'm doing interval running, I'm jumping, I'm so speedy round the net, and then I have to get rid of all that and go into this slow run that goes on for hours and hours. It's so strange

So what's your longest training run?

I've managed 21 miles now, but at one time it got to the point where I didn't know if I could do it. I didn't know if my body would change enough. I'm still quite big, I'm still quite heavy with muscle mass, and just after Christmas I didn't know if I could get beyond about 12 miles

How did you come to get involved then?

I blame my old doubles partner Nathan Robertson. We did a lot of charity work after Athens, when we got approached by Sparks and asked if we'd like to be part of it. They involve lots of sports people doing different events, and Nathan's little girl was in Great Ormond Street at one stage so a children's medical charity was quite close to his heart. Then I got a text about May last year from Tara, one of the ladies working at Sparks going: "Gail? You know you said you are retiring, do you fancy running the London marathon?" It seemed a good idea back then as it was on my list of things to do before I die. When I see Tara next week I will kill her! It seems a good idea when it's a year away but it's all too real now. Nathan and I did The Weakest Link and Ready Steady Cook together for the charity - that was a much easier idea!!

You retired after the Beijing Olympics. How has life been since then?

Really strange. I've gone from a life of structure and plans where you know what you're doing, get up, eat the right things, go in the gym, do your training, and suddenly I'm in a world of meetings and coffee, then meetings about the meetings and drink more coffee. It's just weird. Sometimes I wake up with complete panic atteacks and want to run back to the safety of my badminton court.

Wasn't it young to retire anyway, with 2012 on the horizon?

I'm very flattered you think I'm so young but I was the oldest doubles competitor in Beijing, and I lost to 21-year-olds. A lot of the other girls on the tour are in their early 20s, and some are teenagers. Yes, London 2012 would have been an amazing experience but I go to an Olympics to win it, and I'll be 35 then. Am I going to be the best shape I could be to win a gold? The standard is higher and higher. I was the fittest and strongest I've ever been in Beijing but can I do that for another four years? I didn't think I could, and I didn't want to be one of these people that everybody was saying: 'She should have stopped.' I'd rather they be asking why I didn't carry on?

But surely a Games at home would have been a great way to finish after Athens and Beijing?

It would have been amazing, but I'd have felt I was cheating. I could probably have scraped through the qualifying and got there, but that wouldn't be enough for me. It wouldn't be right. Losing first round wouldn't mean anything just to say I took part.

You mention the standard of the sport rising - will it ever be high profile like tennis?

Part of what I'm doing now is trying to get involved to improve that - but I'm not stupid, I know it won't ever have the sort of glamour tennis does. Andy Murray is a big friend of mine and I'm pleased for the attention he gets but it would be good if our sport got a slice of that. The problem with badminton is the Americans are crap at it. If it was big in America, then badminton as a sport would be a lot better. We are so Far East dominated - when you go there the badminton players are like gods, they are like our football players. But in Europe it's just a social sport and I just want to make people realise that it's also a godamm competitive sport and the more we get that across the more we can move it on. If we could get tournaments on TV then more and people would realise how exciting it can be and get into it more.

You could be right. When you and Nathan were in the Olympics there were big audiences to watch on TV.

That's right. And as a nation we should follow that up. I get on my soap box but we have big problems with obesity, and we should celebrate sport more and get kids playing and winning.

Ah yes, winning. You've always been fiercely competitive...

I know. I still play against some of the good young British players at the Badminton Centre and I'm still winning, which is good for me but you do wonder. I come off the court and they are saying: 'Oh, you're so good, you should still be playing,' and I tell them: 'No, you should be beating me now, I just want to win more and that's the only thing that's stopping you.'

Are there are some others who might do well in 2012 then?

Yes, Gabby White - she's 18 and a fantastic talent, and Jenny Wallwork is 22. They are both from Leeds, fantastic girls with great attitude and great skills. They are the girls I'm mentoring. I don't coach them in skills, but as much in how to think about it. What I can do is give them guidance, like a big sister role I guess.

Gail, great to meet you and we've a free £50 bet to say thank you for your time.

That can go to Sparks and if anybody wants to add to my marathon sponsorship on www.justgiving.com/gailemms to help some more that would be great. As I said I've become good friends with Andy Murray, so I'll back him at [2.2] to win one of the three Grand Slams remaining this year.

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