 Well, delighted to have one of the Donegal Olympians in the studio to look ahead to the games in Rio, Brazil Which of course takes place in the month of August Chloe McGee. You're welcome to Highland. Thank you very much It's nice to have you in. Yeah, it's nice to be back It's a nice time of the year for you as well prepping for Olympics Yeah, definitely stressful time of the year, but yeah, it's good. I'm looking forward to it There's nothing really new do you have been in two games before so it's there's not the new there in the No, not really. I think this time was definitely the hardest one getting there, but yeah, it's my third Olympics So it's definitely not new. Yeah, how's preparations been then for you over the last couple of months? It's been good. I mean after Olympic qualification finished That was a big time for me because it was but touch and go for a while And I had a lot of work to do at the end of qualification Which wasn't really the way I wanted it to be but that's the way it happened and that was the way it went So after that then I had two weeks off and got mentally fresh again and went back at training And we went to state the America two weeks ago and went pretty well So yeah, I'm ready. I just have a few last taper now and then we're ready to go How stressful was it trying to get qualification because I know you and Sam was trying to get qualified for the mixed doubles And then the call had to be made which one to move forward with so I'm sure that was stressful Not you but Sam as well and then trying to get into that top 37 38 Yeah, definitely. I mean our mixed obviously we really wanted to qualify and it was tough because only 16 pairs in the whole world go So it was a big challenge and it was one that I really wanted to try and make it But unfortunately it just didn't make it and because with the singles and the mixed it was two different types of tournaments We need to be playing and you know things started to slip a little bit We had to make a call Christmas to make sure that we qualified in one and The high-performance team decided that was singles and that's the road that we went and yeah I had to get back then and my rank and slept quite about so I needed to get back up again And yeah, it was a bit of stress, but that's what makes it all better when you get there I'll just ask you on on the health scare the situation there in Brazil because everybody's talking about it Particularly the golfers Zika is something that's not worrying you is it no I mean everybody's ready to have their opinion on it And I think it of course everybody has to look at the guidelines and see what you've been sent because it is obviously a big thing in Brazil But I mean I have no no problems with it at all. We've been sent their information I really trust the doctors and the institute they they're good guys They've did their homework and you know They haven't left any stone unturned with us and every week they're updating us So I know if there was a big problem and they thought that somebody was going to get sick They wouldn't send a team and I fully believe that so now I have no problem with it I know I've done my homework on it as well. I know the risks. I know what happens and I'm ready to go There's a lot of professional athletes now moving on to to the Olympics and the golfers as one on you know I'm how important the Olympic movement is and how important it is for somebody in your sport to be part of the Olympics Do you think it's it's a bit disrespectful? Maybe it might be too strong a word I'm using that the golfers have dealt with a situation the way they have I Think it is it's different for every sport and I think BAMpton, you know Everybody that's playing BAMpton at the Olympics is professional full-time. So, you know for us as a small sport It's huge, you know to make the Olympics is kind of the pinnacle of BAMpton and you know Everybody wants to be at the Olympics and that's just the way it is for our sport I think it's different for all sports. So, you know, I can only speak for myself and I can't speak for them I don't know what way it works for them But yeah, I think for BAMpton to be at the Olympics is everything and to me it is also everything How is your preparation for 2016 different from from all we hit and 2012 in Beijing and London? I think I'm more experienced player now as you said I'm 27 now So it's definitely it's different, you know, your your body is different You're working against injuries you're working trying to be as fat as possible and you know in 2012 I was just focused on singles this time I tried to go for maximum singles which was probably a big ask but you know It was a challenge that I wanted to take and yeah, it's just been a little bit different this year It's been a lot more work a lot more training needed a lot more tournaments, but I mean, I've enjoyed it It's been some very high highs and some very low lows, but it's been a great year And I'm just thankful to say at the end of it that I did qualify Are you in better shape this time around or have you struggled to get up to be in the shape that you're on it and the level that you're at? I think this time I'm definitely the best BAMP player I've ever been. I mean the game has also moved on hugely You know everybody's getting better everybody is as fit as each other You know everybody's trying to see him now. So it's down to small things and I think a lot of that You'll see a lot of players working with psychologists and you know a lot of things that come down to that small mental age that small You know it's very rarely you'll see this almost physically better, but you know it's technical It's mental and you know these are the small things that are making big differences And how important our role does Daniel play and trying to iron out these small differences? Yeah Daniel's part of the high-performance team. So we've got like you know an Indonesian coach there as well We've got our high-performance director and Dan so yeah He's working hard in the background and they're doing a lot of kind of you know video analysis stuff of the minute And just trying to help us get those small differences again Yeah, he's playing a big part in the background Yeah, and obviously looking for a kind draw for real. It's gonna be done out at the end of July and probably by the time We earn air this interview. Yeah, you'll know who you're playing, but you'll be hoping for a kind one Yeah, definitely. I mean the draw is a big big day and You just you want to be try and hit the lower stage obviously like everybody does but I mean whenever happens You just have to do your best to get your best performance out and if I perform to the best that I can I'll leave real with no regrets. You'll be an either a grip of three or four What's of those do you feel will be will be more beneficial to you? Yeah, I think most likely I'll be a group of three and Yeah, I'll be happy with that You know go out and play two games and hopefully get out two good performances and that's what I'll be looking to do You want a game in Beijing and you want a game in London is the target now in Rio To win two games in a competition and trying to get out of the group because you're the first Irish person to everyone Too much is at an Olympic games and badminton. So it's about going now to another level is it taking another step Yeah, definitely. I mean I would love to I'd love to one as many games as I possibly can I mean as I said the draw will be a big day and if I can have lower stage You never know what can happen. But it's also, you know, there's a lot of good players in Rio It's you know the best in the world are there. So it's never gonna be easy But I just want to go and do the best that I can do and if I can do that as I said I'll leave definitely with no regrets. There's not much of climatization Required in badminton because it's indoors and and and the courts compared to like what's Brendan and Mark Will have to do it for their walking and on the track stuff So what's training now gonna be over the next couple of weeks. Well, what will you actually be doing and prepping? For real well for me. I'm gonna go to two different training camps. So next week I'm gonna go to England and we're gonna do, you know, some of the best Ladies are coming from all around Europe to that camps. I'll be brilliant I'll be just more less game so tapering and the following week. I'll go to France and there will be more or less the same So both they're gonna be set up like halls like Rio and try and give us, you know That same air con that same temperature and yeah after that We just go back and do the small things that we need to work on and then it's real It's all very soon that you smile every time you mention the word The word real and you're gonna try and enjoy this one more kit Well, does this have the prospect of being your most enjoyable games because you went through two different scenarios before But in the other side of the world and then and then closer to home Yeah, I mean, I think it'll be very hard to tap London London was unbelievable and every single way possible I mean, I know everybody says it's your home Olympics because we'll probably never host one ourselves But it really is, you know, everything was the same my family came the social side was brilliant You know, I performed pretty well and I mean I really really enjoyed that Olympics and made some good friends lifelong friends out of the team there and I mean Rio I don't know what to expect, but I'm sure it will be good in its own way, too But I just think it will be very hard to top London, but I'm hoping that you never know You said that you're 27 years of age and what's after Rio? Is there another four years in you to go around again and maybe try and get back to a tournament with Sam? Because that's something that you would love to do because it's amazing the connection with badminton and the McGee family We're gonna mention a few more in a minute I know you've stuck at this one to overcome But is that still a target you would like to do yourself and Sam? Yeah, you never know. I mean, we'll see after Rio But definitely me and Sam we've developed so much in the last two years as a mixed pair You know, we've been ranked up there in the 20s in the world We've competed with the best in the world and you know I'm really excited about our future as a mixed pair because it's only the last two years we've developed so much and I think you know if you speak about being world-class in Bampton I think it's me and Sam that can do that and you know, you never know what will happen four years is a long time and I know the last four years went very fast, but We can just take it one year at a time and see you know We want to win those major medals and that's where we want to be so yeah There's definitely like a good future there, but it it just depends on Which way it goes I have to mention the younger McGee's to and her head Josh She's going well and the men's and the doubles along with Sam learning all the time and of course There's Rachel too who's part of an Ireland setup and is working very very hard You would be I suppose the standout figure we'll call you in the McGee family And you've got all these younger siblings trying now to achieve a judo Yeah, definitely I mean Josh is really one of these people that I can say he determines the free his hard work pays off He has been there since he's been young. He's never got really much recognition for his work And he's worked hard worked hard worked hard and this year or last year He won a European Games medal this year He's won Slovenia open and I mean it's fantastic because he's really someone that is you know for me and Sam We have different things that you know Sam's really smart and I've always worked hard But Josh is just you know, he really works hard He really wants it and that's why I'm so happy to see that he got his rewards and then you've Rachel He's younger again, and you know, she's full of skill and full of confidence and You know, she's working really hard this year down Dublin as well So she's moved there full-time which is quite hard when you're when you're that age and you know All your friends are doing whatever they're doing and she's there training every single day at badminton and you know I really believe that she's in a good setup. We've got young guys now one in European medals European junior medals We've got you know, such a good setup and Dublin now and we work closely with the Institute of Sport And I think it's everything is there to make Olympics and I do believe a big target for her will be Tokyo And I'll be very surprised if she doesn't make that. We'll be watching her career now very very closely too So then just finally is this Chloe McGee have the hunger that these younger McGee's have at the moment and I had at the Rio games. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I'm excited to go now I mean the build up and the hype and everything has just got so big I see this last seven days We picked up her gear and you know, everything is just it seemed always so far away and now it just seems around the corner So, yeah, I'm looking forward to getting down there. I just want to see what it's all about now I want to get and see what the haul is and yeah, we'll see because it's been them It's been such a challenging year and but in a really good way So I'm glad that every time I was kind of down and out. I came back and yeah Let's hope that was the storm before the shine in Rio Well, listen from everybody in the head in sports team I'm sure everybody in the counter where we're all behind you Chloe and we wish you all the best in Rio And hopefully by getting those two victories that you're looking for. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. That's the local. Thank you