A minute with Chloe Magee
School: Royal and Prior, Raphoe, Co Donegal
Sport: Badminton
Other school sports: I played anything – badminton, of course, hockey, basketball, tennis, everything. I was always better at badminton but I enjoyed playing other sports, and they kept me fit. Eventually I had to focus on badminton and just didn't have the time to be playing anything else.
Who got you started? Definitely my dad, without him I wouldn't even be playing. He always loved badminton and played at the local club. Even on days when I just didn't want to go – and you know when you're that age there are plenty of days like that – he would get me up and out. I'm grateful now!
The best of days: No question, it was the day we won the All-Ireland schools' badminton title in Gormanston, just the best memory ever. Until then the school was more focused on hockey so it was a huge thing for us. And to top it all we also won the "best turned out" school!
The worst of days: There really are no bad sporting memories from school, but the worst day was definitely when I lost in the semi-finals of the national championships. It was my first year playing senior Irish tournaments and I'd won them all up to the nationals – I still don't know how I lost.
Most inspiring sporting memory:No one memory really stands out, just growing up I knew I was talented and was determined to make the most of it.
I wished I was: Venus Williams! I'm just a huge fan, and always have been. I think compared to Serena she's often been under-rated and sometimes written off – but then, like at Wimbledon the last two years, she's proved everyone wrong. I like her personality too, she's less arrogant than Serena, and she's also made a life for herself outside tennis with her fashion business. She hardly needs the money, but she just seems rounded, like tennis isn't everything.
If I could turn back time: Well, in my last year in school I devoted nearly all my time to badminton, and not enough to my studies. I did okay, but I know I could have done so much better. I didn't even want to be at school at that stage, I only thought about badminton, so if I could turn back time I'd study a wee bit harder!
The value of school sport to you: Just being part of a team taught me so much. I'm often away at tournaments now on my own, so it's all about me, just focusing on what I need and have to do, but being in teams back in school, in different sports, taught me that it's NOT just about yourself, it's about the whole group, working with and helping each other. And being in a team is fun!
Most admired: Venus – again!
Not too keen:Andy Murray, definitely! I just can't stand him, to be honest. I don't know what it is, I used to like him, but he has become so arrogant.
One sporting wish: My biggest wish in the world is that the Irish badminton team makes it in to the top five in Europe, that's what I want more than anything. I know we have the players, the talent and the potential, so we CAN do it if we keep working hard. On a personal level, I'd love to make it to the Olympics in 2012, Beijing – which was a fantastic experience – just left me wanting more.
Chloe Magee, the 20-year-old from Donegal, is the Irish badminton champion who qualified for last summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, beating a player ranked 28 places above her in the first round.
