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Best? Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014
 The
best experience of my sporting career was an easy decision;
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. It is head and
shoulders the best sporting event I have ever been a part of.
The crowds were amazing; 3,000 people for Finals Day and over a
million watching live on TV. There was even over 1,000 people
watching in the venue on the first day. We had Royalty taking
an interest in our sport and the front row during the Final
was as close to Sporting Royalty as you can get; Sir Steve
Redgrave, Daley Thompson, Victoria Pendleton, Matthew Pinsent &
Katherine Grainger, to name but a few.
Breaking the Bubble
The feeling you have being part of a multi-sport Games and
breaking out of our squash 'bubble' is unique. The atmosphere in
the Athlete's village is, I'm told, better than during the
Olympics, as everyone embraces the atmosphere of the 'Friendly
Games'. The 24 hour dining hall deserves a mention in any
Commonwealth Games review and this one is no different.
How we were looked after my Team England leaves nothing to
chance. Everything from kit fittings to dedicated physio staff
on station 24 hours a day to our own custom gymnasium and
recovery centre. There was nothing left to do than to perform on
the field of play.
Magic Ceremony
And what about the Opening Ceremony? I had mistakenly thought
the feeling of walking out in front of 90,000 at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground during my first Commonwealth Games would never be
beaten.
 But
leading out Team England at Celtic Park carrying the St.
George's Cross high above my head (yes, it was heavy!) I am
now confident, that at least in a sporting sense, the feeling
will never be surpassed. What made it all the more special was
it was voted for by all members of Team England.
And we got to be front row at a Rod Stewart concert. What an
amazing honour!
The flag bearing was the start of a busy few days for me. The
next day I won my 100th England cap & the following day
celebrated my 34th birthday;
a birthday I bizarrely shared with my opponent, Alan Clyne.
Having the crowd sing 'Happy Birthday' to both of us during the
knock-up was one of the most surreal, yet brilliant, experiences
of my life.
Just three days later
I found myself on top of the podium alongside my two England
teammates, James & Peter, proudly trying to take in the
words of Jerusalem whilst watching the three England flags being
raised. Whilst trying to fight back the tears.
And failing.
The singles final was a great advert for our sport, especially
considering the problems James & I had both had in the build up.
That night it was time for media duties (after the obligatory
drugs testing) and a visit to the temporary BBC centre on the
River Clyde. A cosy sofa chat with Gary Lineker and
stroll down the river with Dan Walker ensued. It all
added up to probably the best media coverage our sport has ever
achieved.
All these things in a nutshell add up for me as to why the
Commonwealth Games is the biggest title in our sport. That is
taking absolutely nothing away from a World title or British
Open. It is a honour to win both and I'm desperate for more. The
field is also clearly stronger in both. There are no Egyptians
in the Commonwealth Games for a start! But what the
Commonwealths gives squash is a profile unrivalled by anything
else. It's only every four years.
And for the time being, it's our Olympics.
And what made it even more special was that I very nearly didn't
make it. I very nearly had my dream taken away. Five weeks
beforehand I was on a hospital bed having had an operation on a
meniscus tear on my right knee.
 Just
getting to Glasgow was an incredible achievement. Twelve matches
in ten days later and I left with a Gold & a Silver medal. My
doubles partner, Adrian Grant & I being so desperately
close to doing the double.
Glasgow 2014 was the best two weeks of my sporting life. I would
be very surprised if anything ever changed that. Maybe it's
because we only truly appreciate things when they are in danger
of being taken away from us. I owe a massive debt of gratitude
to those people who helped me get to Glasgow and fulfil my
sporting dreams. |
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