Listen to the latest episode of the BEC Podcast with Scottish women’s singles player, Kirsty Gilmour.
Gilmour, 26, is a women’s singles player who has represented Scotland and Great Britain at the highest level all over the world, but one of the first significant triumphs of her career game came close to home. In 2014, the Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, and Gilmour, lifted by the home support took the opportunity in both hands and won a silver medal for Great Britain.
In 2018, she was able to take home a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia, after a semifinal with Canada’s Michelle Li which was a repeat of 2014’s final. In the same year, she was able to defend her crown as Scottish Open champion. Most recently, Gilmour came away from the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus, with a silver medal. Talking about this moment, Gilmour said.
- To have that silver medal, it was hard to get yet another one. That is why it is good to have the people around you that are not necessarily in badminton. So, my friends were saying ‘amazing, a silver medal’. I was like do you know what, it is a little bit amazing. But I’ll never not want that gold.
I can achieve so much more
Gilmour also opened up and reflected about her achievements, where she is now, and what the future may bring.
- I am pretty happy with what I have achieved so far in the sport. I think I can achieve so much more. For European players, it is common that they come into their own later than the Asians. I have just turned 26, and I am one of the older ones on the circuit, which is frightening, Gilmour stated.
The flying Scot, who has won 13 career titles, also talks about her emotions around the European Games silver, her appreciation of Carolina Marin, the Team GB road to Tokyo, representing Scotland, her relationship with the media, plans beyond 2020 and the future of Scottish badminton.