Olympic medallist Gail Emms on how Andy Murray consoled her after a big Olympic loss

Tennis - Andy Murray is a former World No. 1 and a three-time Grand Slam winner. He is also known for speaking out on various issues including supporting women's tennis and is an advocate of equality.

Now, former badminton Olympic silver-medallist Gail Emms has spoken about her encounter with Murray at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when the Scot, who was then 21 years old, consoled her after a big defeat in the quarter-finals of her event.

Gail Emms on how Andy Murray consoled her after a big loss at the Olympics

43 year old Gail Emms is a retired English badminton player who is best known for her doubles results. She retired from the sport in 2008. Her best results include 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.

Emms was recently on the 'Sport and the Feels’ podcast where she spoke about how tennis star Andy Murray consoled her after a big loss at the Beijing Games.

“Andy and Jamie were flatmates of mine in Beijing. I think for them it (Olympics) was a new concept they heard. I don’t think Jamie had played the Olympics before and Andy was new to the Olympic concept. Murray had lost. Their mum Judy was a big badminton fan as well. We asked them to come and support us. We lost. There was a bus going to the Olympic Village. I walked on to it and the only seat left was an empty seat next to Andy Murray. I saw his face because I was crying my eyes out. His face was like ‘Oh god, no crying Gale’. I told him to talk about anything but badminton. The poor boy, I scared the hell out of him and he was like ‘um, okay’. Bless him. For 45 minutes he talked about anything and everything. His dog, his new house, his training, whatever. And I just needed that. I wanted to not talk about badminton. I wanted to talk about normal life and things that have a perspective. And he got that instinctively that’s what I needed."

Emms says she also made Andy Murray realise the importance of the Olympic Games. "I said that this is our pinnacle and you just treated it like, ‘Eh, it’s just the Olympics’. I think he learned his lesson because he went on to do pretty well in the Olympics."

When @gailemms lost in Beijing, @andy_murray came to the rescue. On the bus. Next to 'crying Gail'. 🎧 the full story here: https://t.co/GLbdlCHo0H#Olympics #Beijing2008 @JudyMurray @jsoverend #MentalHealthMatters pic.twitter.com/WzHb4Q0lIj

— Sport and the Feels (@Feels_Sport) August 6, 2020

33 year old Andy Murray has won three Grand Slams and two Olympic gold medals. He has also been part of the British Davis Cup winning team and a winner of the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals. Murray returned to the tour after hip surgery last year. He has not played this year due to another injury and has received a wild card for the upcoming US Open in New York.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/30FKboG