After picking up silver in the individual mixed doubles four years ago, they will look to do better at the National Exhibition Center in Solihull. Here both Marcus Ellis and Lauren reflect on their respective experiences with the Commonwealth Games and how they want to lead by example in Birmingham.
.png "Common wealth games")
“So I have autographs that kids that age usually have Disney characters and stuff like that. But I brought it to all the players, and every Team England player signed him and they were all very good."
“I went to Clarky (Anthony Clark) and he went one step further and actually took a photo of me and the team. He signed the back, which meant a lot. Somewhere in the house the picture is still in a little frame somewhere which is a very inspiring moment for me.” “I realized that I wanted to be that person. I can't remember the game I watched but that moment was huge for me."
Marcus Ellis:
“I remember not only watching badminton but a lot of different sports in the Commonwealth on TV. That's what I love most about multi-sport events. You can turn on the television any time of the day for two weeks or so and watch sports."
“It may not be a sport you've watched before, but you'll see the best in the world at it. I think it's very inspiring. The matches that highlighted badminton when I was younger also helped me a lot in the early stages of playing.”
What I learned from the previous Commonwealth Games:
“You learn a lot from this multi-sport event. How to deal with schedules, ways to deal with the environment,” says Lauren Smith. “You learn about what you need to do to get the best out of yourself. It's very different to a regular tournament and you have to be careful not to get carried away by all the other things that happen in a Match.”
“Something as simple as food becomes a huge buffet. When
you're new to it, you can easily fill your plate, but then you learn to stay
aware of how you're refueling.”
“It was a big thing for me in Glasgow, the first time me and
I were on the court a lot in women's doubles and mixed team events. It's
non-stop. Hopefully because this is our third Game, we can use the experience
to our advantage," he said.
“I really think the multi-sport team environment brings out
the best in me as a player. That added team environment, with all these other
sports brings extra excitement and I think it contributed to the better
performances of both of us.
Lauren Smith:
"It was the second one, so I have an idea of what to
expect after Glasgow. Even though it feels crazy it was four years ago. To get
three medals, you can't complain too much no matter the competition, let alone
the Commonwealth Games."
Marcus Ellis:
"I feel I've missed a bit of the previous game in Glasgow and there's no guarantee I'll still be playing now. I feel like it's my only chance to add a Commonwealth medal to my collection," he said.
"The mixed team event was very important, which got us
off to a really good start, although I think we could have gone further, but in
that situation we were just happy to get a medal."
“In both doubles, we had a fantastic tournament with some
fantastic wins. But to be honest came the final day I was really exhausted. I
have almost nothing left and am happy to cross the finish line with a medal.
Marcus Ellis:
“We went through a lot of changes in the team during the
last cycle and suddenly we were the most experienced in the squad. I will be
there for anyone who wants help. The team is young but also very, very capable
of producing world-class results, so I feel quite positive about that."
Lauren Smith:
"It's about not getting overwhelmed and finding that
balance. But those who played their first Commonwealth Games still needed to
enjoy it. And they will be able to perform at their best when they don't feel
too much pressure.
"So Marcus and I are going to try and set an example a
little bit. We will try and give the team everything we have learned over the
years. If teammates want a little guidance, they can always talk to us. I hope
it's a great experience for every member of the team and the first of many for
some of them."
0 Comments:
Post a Comment