15 Facts About Gail Emms

Gail Elizabeth Emms MBE was born on 23 July 1977 and is a retired English badminton player who has achieved international success in doubles tournaments.

Gail Emms attended the Dame Alice Harpur School in Bedford, a private girls' school.

Gail Emms's 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.

Gail Emms's parents divorced while Emms was in her early teens.

Gail Emms competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's doubles with partner Donna Kellogg.

Gail 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.

Gail Emms then went on to win her first match in the mixed doubles with Nathan Robertson against the Chinese world number 2 pair.

Gail Emms has worked as a TV presenter and commentator for the BBC, Sky and BT Sport.

Gail Emms 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.

Gail Emms has subsequently been critical of UK Sport's strategy in allocating funds, suggesting that its emphasis on elite level players and Olympic medal results is inappropriate.

Gail Emms has appeared on the sports-based panel show A Question of Sport and is a regular guest on Fighting Talk.

Gail Emms was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 Birthday Honours for services to badminton.

Gail Emms gave birth to her first child, Harry, in March 2010 and to her second child, Oliver, in May 2013.

Gail Emms has spoken about the difficulty many professional athletes have in adjusting to life after retiring from their sport while still young.

Gail Emms 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.