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Nathan Robertson
Nathan Robertson
from Wikipedia

Nathan James Robertson (born 30 May 1977) from Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire is a retired English badminton player who has achieved international success in both the men's events and the mixed doubles event. He was educated at Dayncourt School Specialist Sports College.

Key Information

Career

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2004

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Robertson best results include winning gold at the 2004 European Championships in Geneva, and a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, both partnering Gail Emms in the mixed doubles. He has won six medals at the Commonwealth Games, and has won the last four men's doubles (with Anthony Clark) and the last two mixed doubles (with Gail Emms) at the English National Championships.

2004 Summer Olympics

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Robertson competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in men's doubles with partner Anthony Clark. They defeated Patapol Ngernsrisuk and Sudket Prapakamol of Thailand in the first round, then were defeated in the round of 16 by Eng Hian and Flandy Limpele of Indonesia, who had previously represented England for a brief period.

He also competed in mixed doubles with Emms. They had a bye in the first round and defeated Björn Siegemund and Nicol Pitro of Germany in the second. In the quarterfinals, Robertson and Emms beat Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting of China 15–8, 17–15 to advance to the semifinals. There, they beat Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen of Denmark 15–6, 15–12. In the final, they lost to Chinese pair Zhang Jun and Gao Ling 1–15, 15–12, 12–15 to finish with the silver medal.

2005 World Championships

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At the 2005 World Championships, Robertson and Emms began the tournament as number 1 seeds. However, after getting a bye into the second round, he received an ankle injury during practice and they were forced to withdraw.

2006

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The 2006 Commonwealth Games brought Robertson a silver in the team event and a gold in the mixed doubles with Emms.

The same year, he won the gold medal at the 2006 World Championships together with Emms. They beat Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg 21–15, 21–12 in the final.

2008 Beijing Games

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Robertson and Emms did well in their first match in the mixed doubles with a win over the Chinese pairing who were world number 2. The 2006 world champions took the first game 21–16 before Gao Ling and Zheng Bo hit back to win the second 21–16. The British duo found themselves 12–17 down in the decider only to show great powers of recovery to triumph 21–19. Along with his partner, Gail Emms, they lost out on a medal at the quarter final stage.

2009 World Championships

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Robertson was part of the English team forced to withdraw from the 2009 World Championships held in Hyderabad, India because of a terrorist threat.[3]

Racket

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Nathan Robertson used the Carlton Fireblade Tour racket.

Retirement

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Nathan Robertson announced his retirement on 5 June 2012.[4]

Achievements

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Olympic Games

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Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2004 Goudi Olympic Hall, Athens, Greece United Kingdom Gail Emms China Zhang Jun
China Gao Ling
1–15, 15–12, 12–15 Silver

World Championships

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Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1999 Brøndby Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark England Simon Archer South Korea Lee Dong-soo
South Korea Yoo Yong-sung
11–15, 8–15 Bronze Bronze

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2006 Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain England Gail Emms England Anthony Clark
England Donna Kellogg
21–15, 21–12 Gold Gold

Commonwealth Games

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Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia England Julian Robertson Malaysia Cheah Soon Kit
Malaysia Yap Kim Hock
2–15, 15–12, 8–15 Bronze Bronze
2002 Bolton Arena, Manchester, England England Anthony Clark Malaysia Chang Kim Wai
Malaysia Choong Tan Fook
5–8, 3–7, 4–7 Bronze Bronze
2010 Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi, India England Anthony Clark Malaysia Koo Kien Keat
Malaysia Tan Boon Heong
19–21, 14–21 Silver Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia England Joanne Davies England Simon Archer
England Joanne Goode
2–15, 5–15 Silver Silver
2006 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia England Gail Emms New Zealand Daniel Shirley
New Zealand Sara Petersen
21–17, 21–10 Gold Gold
2010 Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi, India England Jenny Wallwork Malaysia Koo Kien Keat
Malaysia Chin Eei Hui
20–22, 12–21 Silver Silver

European Championships

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Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Winter Sports Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria England Julian Robertson Sweden Peter Axelsson
Sweden Pär-Gunnar Jönsson
15–10, 10–15, 10–15 Bronze Bronze
2000 Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, Glasgow, Scotland England Simon Archer Denmark Jens Eriksen
Denmark Jesper Larsen
13–15, 15–7, 3–15 Bronze Bronze
2002 Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden England Anthony Clark Denmark Jens Eriksen
Denmark Martin Lundgaard Hansen
4–7, 7–1, 3–7, 7–2, 3–7 Silver Silver
2004 Queue d’Arve Sport Center, Geneva, Switzerland England Anthony Clark Denmark Jens Eriksen
Denmark Martin Lundgaard Hansen
3–15, 9–15 Silver Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2002 Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden England Gail Emms Denmark Jens Eriksen
Denmark Mette Schjoldager
5–7, 3–7, 1–7 Silver Silver
2004 Queue d’Arve Sport Center, Geneva, Switzerland England Gail Emms Denmark Jonas Rasmussen
Denmark Rikke Olsen
15–3, 8–15, 15–5 Gold Gold
2008 Messecenter, Herning, Denmark England Gail Emms Poland Robert Mateusiak
Poland Nadieżda Kostiuczyk
21–14, 10–21, 6–21 Bronze Bronze
2010 Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England England Jenny Wallwork Poland Robert Mateusiak
Poland Nadieżda Kostiuczyk
18–21, 21–18, 9–21 Bronze Bronze

World Junior Championships

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Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1994 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia England Gail Emms China Zhang Wei
China Qiang Hong
14–17, 5–15 Bronze Bronze

BWF Superseries

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The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[5] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011.[6] Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2009 Singapore Open England Anthony Clark Indonesia Markis Kido
Indonesia Hendra Setiawan
21–12, 21–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2007 Malaysia Open England Gail Emms China Zheng Bo
China Gao Ling
12–21, 21–14, 15–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2007 Denmark Open England Gail Emms China He Hanbin
China Yu Yang
17–21, 21–19, 17–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2010 Denmark Open England Jenny Wallwork Denmark Thomas Laybourn
Denmark Kamilla Rytter Juhl
12–21, 21–12, 9–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix

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The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017. The World Badminton Grand Prix has been sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Polish Open England Julian Robertson England Ian Pearson
England Nick Ponting
2–15, 15–8, 15–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2004 Thailand Open England Anthony Clark Indonesia Luluk Hadiyanto
Indonesia Alvent Yulianto
12–15, 6–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2001 Dutch Open England Gail Emms Netherlands Chris Bruil
Netherlands Lotte Jonathans
7–5, 3–7, 7–3, 7–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2001 Denmark Open England Gail Emms Indonesia Tri Kusharjanto
Indonesia Emma Ermawati
5–7, 1–7, 4–7 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2002 Malaysia Open England Gail Emms China Wang Wei
China Zhang Yawen
11–9, 11–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 Singapore Open England Gail Emms South Korea Kim Dong-moon
South Korea Ra Kyung-min
2–11, 10–13 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2003 Thailand Open England Gail Emms China Chen Qiqiu
China Zhao Tingting
4–11, 11–8, 0–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2003 Malaysia Open England Gail Emms South Korea Kim Dong-moon
South Korea Ra Kyung-min
6–15, 5–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2004 Thailand Open England Gail Emms Thailand Sudket Prapakamol
Thailand Saralee Thungthongkam
8–15, 15–12, 15–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2004 Denmark Open England Gail Emms China Chen Qiqiu
China Zhao Tingting
4–15, 11–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2005 German Open England Gail Emms South Korea Lee Jae-jin
South Korea Lee Hyo-jung
12–15, 14–17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2005 All England Open England Gail Emms Denmark Thomas Laybourn
Denmark Kamilla Rytter Juhl
15–10, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2005 Swiss Open England Gail Emms Indonesia Nova Widianto
Indonesia Liliyana Natsir
17–14, 15–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2005 Hong Kong Open England Gail Emms China Xie Zhongbo
China Zhang Yawen
8–15, 5–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2005 China Open England Gail Emms South Korea Lee Jae-jin
South Korea Lee Hyo-jung
15–10, 15–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2006 Swiss Open England Gail Emms England Robert Blair
England Natalie Munt
14–17, 15–7, 15–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2006 All England Open England Gail Emms China Zhang Jun
China Gao Ling
15–12, 14–17, 1–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2006 Singapore Open England Gail Emms Indonesia Nova Widianto
Indonesia Liliyana Natsir
16–21, 22–20, 21–23 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2011 Swiss Open England Jenny Wallwork Denmark Joachim Fischer Nielsen
Denmark Christinna Pedersen
21–23, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series

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Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1995 Hungarian International England Julian Robertson Austria Harald Koch
Austria Jürgen Koch
15–18, 15–7, 15–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1995 Welsh International England Julian Robertson Russia Andrey Antropov
Russia Nikolai Zuyev
8–15, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1996 Portugal International England Steve Isaac England James Anderson
England Ian Pearson
11–15, 5–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1996 La Chaux-de-Fonds International England Steve Isaac England James Anderson
England Ian Pearson
12–15, 15–13, 15–17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1996 Norwegian International England Julian Robertson Sweden Henrik Andersson
Sweden Johan Tholinsson
9–2, 9–8, 9–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1997 Norwegian International England Julian Robertson Sweden Henrik Andersson
Sweden Jens Olsson
4–9, 9–4, 9–2, 0–9, 9–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 BMW Open International England Anthony Clark England Simon Archer
England Flandy Limpele
5–15, 14–17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1995 Hungarian International England Gail Emms Austria Jürgen Koch
Austria Irina Serova
6–15, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1995 Irish International England Gail Emms England Julian Robertson
England Lorraine Cole
4–15, 4–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1996 Portugal International England Gail Emms England James Anderson
England Emma Constable
12–15, 15–13, 18–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1997 La Chaux-de-Fonds International England Sara Hardaker Ukraine Vladislav Druzchenko
Russia Marina Yakusheva
9–15, 15–3, 10–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1997 Irish International England Joanne Wright Sweden Henrik Andersson
Sweden Jenny Karlsson
14–18, 15–11, 17–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 BMW Open International England Gail Emms Denmark Mathias Boe
Denmark Rikke Olsen
11–9, 3–11, 11–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2012 Swedish International England Jenny Wallwork Denmark Mads Pieler Kolding
Denmark Julie Houmann
21–17, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2012 Polish International England Jenny Wallwork England Ben Stawski
England Lauren Smith
21–15, 21–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2013 Canadian International England Jenny Wallwork Canada Toby Ng
Canada Alex Bruce
21–9, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF/IBF International Series tournament

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
''Nathan Robertson'' is a British former badminton player known for his achievements in mixed doubles, particularly his long-term partnership with Gail Emms that produced an Olympic silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games and a world championship title in 2006. Born on 30 May 1977 in Nottingham, Robertson competed internationally for Great Britain across three Olympic Games, beginning with Sydney 2000 where he reached the quarter-finals in men's doubles, followed by his standout performance in Athens 2004 that included the mixed doubles silver and a men's doubles appearance, and concluding with a quarter-final finish in mixed doubles at Beijing 2008. He also accumulated eight medals at the Commonwealth Games throughout his career. Standing at 187 cm, Robertson established himself as one of Great Britain's leading doubles specialists before retiring from competitive play, with his successes contributing significantly to the profile of badminton in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Birth and background

Nathan Robertson was born on 30 May 1977 in Nottingham, England. He was educated at Dayncourt comprehensive school and became a full-time badminton player at the age of 16. Limited additional information is publicly available regarding his early family life or childhood.

Career

Nathan Robertson specialized in doubles events, particularly mixed doubles in partnership with Gail Emms, with whom he achieved his greatest successes. He also competed in men's doubles, often with Anthony Clark. Robertson represented Great Britain at three Olympic Games. At Sydney 2000, he reached the men's doubles quarter-finals (finishing 5th overall). His standout performance came at Athens 2004, where he won silver in mixed doubles with Emms (losing to China's Zhang Jun and Gao Ling in the final) and also competed in men's doubles. At Beijing 2008, he and Emms reached the mixed doubles quarter-finals. His major titles include the 2006 BWF World Championships gold in mixed doubles with Emms, the 2005 All England Open mixed doubles title with Emms, and the 2004 European Championships mixed doubles gold. He also secured a bronze in men's doubles at the 1999 World Championships with Simon Archer. Across his career, he won eight medals at the Commonwealth Games. Robertson retired from competitive badminton on 5 June 2012 after failing to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics. Following retirement, he transitioned into coaching with Badminton England. He began working with the apprentice group (ages 15-19) in 2015 and moved to the senior national squad in 2017. As of December 2025, he serves as National Doubles Coach but is set to leave the role at the start of 2026.

Personal life

Personal details and interests

Nathan Robertson's personal life remains largely private, with limited public information available beyond his professional badminton career. In 2011, he was in a relationship with fellow English badminton player Jenny Wallwork, his mixed doubles partner at the time. The couple had been together for approximately a year, initially denying their romance before openly acknowledging it. Wallwork noted that their relationship raised initial concerns from coaches but ultimately had no negative impact on their training or on-court performance, as they kept personal matters separate from professional commitments. No further verified details regarding his marital status, family, children, or specific personal interests outside of badminton are documented in reputable sources. As a retired athlete, Robertson has focused on post-career activities related to the sport, though specifics on hobbies or other pursuits remain undisclosed publicly.

Filmography

No filmography or acting/production credits are known for Nathan Robertson, the British badminton player.
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