fontaine - wright
badminton
What was your sport and how did you get into it?
My sport was Badminton and I used to be a women's singles player. I did so many sports as a child as I was always full of energy and after having short tennis lessons at our local sports centre in Coventry, I'd then play badminton. My grandad used to play local league matches and had a junior badminton club called the Racketeers so he coached me up until I was around 17 years old!
Tell us about the highlights of your sporting career?
My overall highlights would be that I competed as an international badminton player from the age of 12 and despite a number of career threatening injuries I had from 18 years old, I went on to represent Team GB and England in international events all over the world. I competed at three European Championships, three World Championships and won Team England medals but my two main highlights would be winning the English National Championships and reaching number 50 in the world rankings after all the setbacks I experienced.
What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?
Unfortunately, my body was prone to injuries and I experienced three in a row which included dislocating, then rupturing my right knee ACL that meant I had to undergo reconstructive surgery. I then fractured my left foot and a year later, prolapsed a disk in my lower back. In the midst of these injuries, I lost my funding from the governing body so from 2009-2013 I was a self-funded athlete which meant I had to find sponsors, work and study to fund my career.
Unfortunately in 2016 after getting back on Team GB, UK Sport pulled all funding from Badminton England and I lost my funding once again. I continued for another two years but it wasn't sustainable and unfortunately, I injured my knee again and didn't have the support to continue despite still being number one in England.
What have been your highlights while working at the Trust?
There have been so many highlights since working for the Trust in 2018 but getting to meet and positively impact so many young people's lives is just the best! Seeing them grow in confidence and then go on to achieve more than they thought possible is so special. Also meeting other athletes and hearing how incredible they are is also so inspiring to me still!
What do you do now alongside working for the Trust?
I am now a first-time mum to our little girl who keeps us on our toes! I am a qualified personal trainer and fitness instructor and I also do freelance work as a journalist and presenter, most recently hosting and presenting at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
What life advice would you give a young person?
The advice I would give to a young person is to never give up! It sounds like a cliche but if I had given up the first time I got injured I would have never achieved all I did. It's ok to change direction and find a new route to where you want to go!
What does Being Me mean to you?
Like many retired athletes, I really struggled with who I was without my sport and I have also found this really hard since becoming a mum too. So, for me, Being Me, means being proud that I am not defined by one thing. We have multiple layers; we are multifaceted and we should be able to celebrate and explore all sides of who we are!
Competitive
Record
2017
European Mixed Team Championships Bronze Medallist
2016
Women’s Singles English National Champion
National Badminton League Champions with Birmingham Lions Team
Irish Open Quarter Finalist
Swiss International Semi Finalist
2015
Irish Open Quarter Finalist
Hellas International Winner
European Mixed Team Championships Silver Medal
Swedish Masters Quarter Finalist
2014
Welsh International Semi Finalist
Hungarian International Winner
Dutch Open Semi Finalist
Uber Cup, Women’s World Team Championships Quarter Finalists
Women’s European Team Championships Bronze Medallist
