FOR SOLIHULL’S two-time Commonwealth medallist, Julia Quinn, the opportunity to get involved in a home Games on her doorstep was one she simply couldn’t turn down.
The former badminton star returned after Kuala Lumpur 1998 with a gold and bronze medal in the women’s team and singles events and now as a part of Team England’s badminton support staff, is involved in the Games once more.
Born in Solihull and now living in Birmingham is very much a home games for Julia, and after coaching since 2006, she is delighted to get the recognition and experience the thrills of Commonwealth action right on her doorstep.
The 51-year-old said: “I was really pleased when I got the call-up as it meant I was going to get to meet new people, learn new things and just get involved in the Commonwealth Games again which is great.
“It’s a home Games! It’s literally about 20 minutes from my home, so it’s brilliant and you get a bit more of a buzz because it’s at home.
“Normally when it’s away you don’t get to see that as much but with it being around the town you get a lot more about it earlier on, so yeah it’s really good.”
Julia is part of the Team England Futures programme, which looks to prepare athletes to deliver medal-winning performances as either Team England, Team GB or ParalympicsGB debutants at future Games.
Julia has been Team England’s Pathway Coach at Badminton England for three years now, and hopes that one day she will be coaching at the Games herself.
She added: “Over the next couple of years I just want to try and help some of the athletes I’m working with go on and obviously compete in a Commonwealth Games and eventually an Olympic Games – ultimately I want to try to help players achieve their goals.
“I obviously want to see athletes hopefully go on to perform at their very best this summer and hopefully achieve.
“Then hopefully I can be there myself in the future as a coach, that’s something that I’d really like to do.”
Commonwealth Games England has appointed SportsAid to lead on the development, management and operational delivery of Team England Futures at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
For more about the programme by click here.
