Kirsty Gilmour

Name: Kirsty Gilmour

Date of birth: 21/09/93

Place of birth: Bellshill

Current Residence: Glasgow

Right or left handed: Right

Main event(s): Singles

Current partner(s): –

International Titles:

• Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2011
• Winner of the Polish International 2012
• Winner of the Czech International 2012, 2013
• Winner of the Swiss International 2012
• Silver medal at the London Grand Prix Gold 2013
• Silver medal at the Scottish Open Grand Prix 2013, 2015
• Winner of the Swedish Masters 2014, 2015
• Winner of the Spanish Open 2015
• Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2014
• Silver medal at the Belgian International 2015
• Winner of the Prague Open 2015
• Winner of the Dutch Open 2015
• Silver medal at the K&D Graphics Yonex Grand Prix 2015
• Silver medal at the Malaysia Masters 2016
• Silver medal at the European Championships 2016, 2017
• Represented Scotland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio
• Winner of the Austrian Open 2017
• Winner of the Orleans International 2017
• Silver medal at the Canada Open 2017
• Scottish Open Grand Prix 2017 Winner
• Winner of the SaarLorLux Open 2020

Scottish Titles:

• 2011/12 -> 2017/18 women’s singles
• 2012/13 women’s double with Jillie Cooper
• 2013/14 & 2014/15 women’s double with Imogen Bankier
• 2015/16 women’s double with Rebekka Findlay
• 2016/17 mixed double with Patrick MacHugh

Other notable achievements:

Commonwealth Games Silver 2014 and Bronze 2018, Rio Olympian 2016, 3 European Individual Silver Medals, 1 European Women’s Team Bronze Medal.

Career Highlight(s): Gold Coast 2018 CWG Bronze Medal. Best month of my life.

Coach(s): Ingo Kindervater

Sponsors: VICTOR

Equipment used (Racket, Shoes): Thruster F

Badminton Goals & Ambitions: To medal at every major event (Europeans, Commonwealth Games, World Champs and Olympics)

Typical week Training Schedule: 20hrs on-court, 5hrs gym work, 4hrs recovery/rehab per week.

When did you start playing badminton and why?
Aged 4. My dad was national junior coach, my uncle was an internationalist and my mum played domestically. I choose between badminton and football when I went to the Glasgow School of Sport aged 11.

First badminton memories: In a sports hall somewhere in Scotland. My dad was taking a squad and I would switch between trying to beat my keepy-up record with a racket and shuttle and my football.

What do you enjoy most about being a badminton player?
When it brings people together. Training with the squad day to day, meeting up with friends at tournaments and when people come and watch and support you. It’s no fun doing it all on your own.

If you play for a foreign club, which one?
Vendsyssel BC in Denmark.

If not badminton then…other sport?
I really miss playing football. Also, after I retire I can’t wait to be able to ski again. (Can’t risk an injury just now..!)

Tips for young players: Always have a focus. But also never lose sight that badminton, even at the top level, is supposed to be fun.

Hobbies: Cinema/films, climbing, coffee, reading, bit of drawing.

Favourite food: Pancakes.

Favourite music: Electro/Alternative Pop. Pvris, The Japanese House, MUNA, Fickle Friends, Paramore.

Favourite foreign badminton destination: Denmark.

Favourite badminton tournament: Scottish Open

Most admired badminton player: Tai Tzu Ying. Those skills..!

Which social media do you use?

Facebook- kgilmourbadminton

Twitter and Instagram- @kirstgilmourr

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