Kirsty Gilmour is aiming for a “career defining” gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
It’s no surprise that Scotland’s top-performing women’s singles player has qualified, but she’s looking to add a gold to the silver she won in Glasgow in 2014 and bronze from Gold Coast 2018.
At 28, Gilmour is going into her fourth Games and feels less pressure to succeed, though that then moves to what she, herself, hopes to achieve.
Gilmour, from Bothwell, said: “A gold medal would be huge, career defining, and a career highlight.
“I have to go in thinking about performance, first of all, and if I get
that right, then it will be gold medal-worthy.
“But I want to complete that set. I’ve got far too many silver medals especially in my collection, so that gold is on my mind.
“I’m feeling good. This is Commonwealth Games number four and it’s a really nice place to be.
“Every singles Games has been vastly different for me – whether it has been home or away, the pressure and expectations that are on me, and the circumstances.
“Delhi, when I was 17, just flew past in a colourful chaos and there was absolutely no pressure. I was just to play as much badminton as possible.
“In Glasgow I was second seed, but it didn’t really feel like it. I was only 20, so I still had that naivety to my game.
“At Gold Cost I really felt that pressure and expectation to get a medal, and that was a stressful three weeks.
“I needed to prove that Glasgow wasn’t a fluke.
“Now, for Birmingham, I don’t feel like I’ve got anything to prove. I’m relaxed and looking forward to it.
“I think if you put too much weight on it that can be a bit crippling.
“In the worst-case scenario in Birmingham, within 12 days we’ll be at the World Championships in Japan, so we move pretty fast.”
Gilmour added: “I’m obviously going for the win, but there’s so much more this year to look forward to, so we’re just going to take it as it comes.
“We have realistic medal chances in other disciplines, so I feel like the pressure is spread and not all on my shoulders, which maybe I have felt in the past.”
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