Gail Emms MBE

Former Professional Badminton Player, Olympic Silver Medallist, World Champion, Former Badminton England Coach & Author of The Lost Lionesses

Gail Emms’s Biography:

Gail Emms MBE is one of Great Britain’s most accomplished badminton players, renowned for her success in mixed doubles and her sustained excellence on the international stage. Over the course of her distinguished career, she represented Great Britain at the highest level, competing in the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Her achievements reflect not only elite sporting ability, but also longevity, professionalism and the mental strength required to compete consistently at the top of world sport.

Gail’s talent was evident from a young age, as she enjoyed significant success in junior competition, winning medals at both World and European Junior Championships. This strong foundation enabled her to transition smoothly into senior international badminton, where she quickly established herself as a formidable competitor. Known for her tactical intelligence, composure and ability to thrive in high-pressure environments, Gail became a mainstay of the British national team and a respected figure among her international peers.

The defining moment of her playing career came in 2006 when she became World Champion in Mixed Doubles, a landmark achievement that placed her among the very best players in the sport globally. Alongside this, she secured an Olympic silver medal and amassed an impressive collection of medals across the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. These accomplishments earned her widespread recognition, including the award of an MBE in 2009 for services to badminton.

After retiring from elite competition, Gail remained deeply involved in the sport, moving into coaching and performance development. In 2013, she joined the Badminton England coaching staff, where she has played a key role in nurturing talent and supporting high-performance programmes. She has also broadened her impact beyond badminton through authorship, publishing The Lost Lionesses: The Incredible Story of England’s Forgotten Trailblazers in 2024, reflecting her passion for celebrating sporting history, resilience and the power of role models.

Why Hire Gail Emms?

Gail Emms brings rare insight into high performance, pressure and sustained success. As an Olympic silver medallist and World Champion, she understands what it takes to prepare, perform and deliver when expectations are highest. Her experience competing and winning across multiple international cycles gives her a powerful perspective on resilience, teamwork and consistency.

Her appointment as an MBE for services to badminton reflects not only sporting success but also her wider impact on British sport. With experience as an elite athlete, national coach and author, Gail speaks with authenticity and credibility about performance, leadership, mindset and life after elite competition, making her an engaging and relatable speaker for corporate, sporting and educational audiences.

Gail Emms’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Gail Emms’s inspirational career:

• 2025 – Published Grit and Goose Feathers, a reflective book exploring resilience, perseverance and the lesser-seen realities of elite sport, drawing on personal experience to highlight how success is shaped by adaptability, setbacks and sustained determination rather than comfort or ease.
• 2024 – Published The Lost Lionesses: The Incredible Story of England’s Forgotten Trailblazers, extending her influence beyond elite sport into authorship and advocacy.
• 2013 – Appointed to the Badminton England Coaching Staff, moving into elite coaching and national talent development.
• 2009 – Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to badminton.
• 2006 – Became World Champion in Mixed Doubles and won Commonwealth Games Gold in Mixed Doubles, alongside Commonwealth Games Bronze in Women’s Doubles, marking the pinnacle year of her competitive career.
• 2006 – Won European Championships Silver in Women’s Doubles and claimed both Silver and Bronze medals at the European Mixed Team Championships representing England.
• 2004 – Won Olympic Silver Medal in Mixed Doubles at the Athens Olympic Games, achieving one of Britain’s most significant badminton results.
• 2004 – Won European Championships Gold in Mixed Doubles and European Women’s Team Championships Silver with England.
• 2002 – Won Commonwealth Games Gold in Mixed Doubles and Commonwealth Games Bronze in Women’s Doubles, confirming her status as a leading international competitor.
• 2002 – Won European Championships Silver in Mixed Doubles.
• 2000 – Won European Championships Gold in Mixed Doubles, securing her first senior European title.
• 2000 – Won European Mixed Team Championships Silver with England.
• 1998 – Won European Championships Bronze in Mixed Doubles, her first senior European podium finish.
• 1997 – Won World Junior Championships Bronze, highlighting her emergence as a future international star.
• 1996 – Won European Junior Championships Bronze, completing a highly successful junior career.