CHAMPION Rio 2016

Our own Marcus Ellis of Bolster Moor brings back a bronze medal in the men’s badminton doubles. Congratulations from the Bolster Moor Community Association on this fantastic achievement.

Back in 2007, we ran a feature about some of the achievements of our young people in Bolster Moor. Six years later we did an update on badminton champion Marcus Ellis from Waller Clough. At 6 years old Marcus showed a rare talent that would take him far beyond the local leagues. A few years later, he was competing in tournaments all over Britain. Then, aged 11, his international career began when he represented his country in Holland. Since then, Marcus has played in numerous tournaments world wide, collecting many medals on the way. Currently, he is based at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes.

After so much success, he was already being tipped for the 2012 Olympics, but only just missed out on qualifying with his doubles partner. However, he was invited to London 2012 to spar against the badminton players taking part, and selected to take part in the team GB Ambition Programme. At the time Marcus said “ It was very inspiring…….it has made me determined not to miss out again and I am already thinking about the Rio Olympics in 2016.”

So, 2016 has arrived and Marcus is doing more than thinking of Rio, he has been named as part of the badminton team for the Games which start on August 5th. Marcus will play in the men’s doubles with partner Chris Langridge. The pair  recently became national champions when they won the English National Badminton Championships in Derby.

To represent Britain at Olympic level is a massive achievement, and has involved absolute dedication and determination by Marcus, and a lot of support from his family along the way. We wish Marcus the very best of luck, we know he will do Bolster Moor proud. We told you back in 2007 to watch this space……now there really is something to watch!