"You think you’ll have four more Olympics, but stuff happens and you might not"
Silver medallist with Andy Murray at London 2012, former tennis star Laura Robson is commentating on Olympic tennis events for Eurosport and Discovery+
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What’s your strongest memory of winning silver with Andy Murray in the mixed doubles at the 2012 Games in London?
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How everyone came together and, whatever sport it was, how supportive everyone on Team GB was of each other. I felt part of the whole experience and I wanted to add a medal to the whole tally, not have it be an individual thing. That was pretty new for me.
What’s your all-time most memorable Olympics moment?
With two Australian parents, my very first memory was Sydney 2000, seeing Cathy Freeman running with the Olympic torch. She was an Australian heroine before the Games and she faced all that pressure to win the 400m, but she did it. And I’d add Super Saturday in 2012. The energy that day was extraordinary. I was at Wimbledon and we heard roar after roar from people watching it on their phones. It was unforgettable.
Where do you keep your silver medal?
It’s somewhere in my parents’ house in Australia. My mum likes to hide things in shoes, so I don’t think it’s in danger of being lost, but I couldn’t say exactly where it is.
How much sport do you do nowadays?
I ran a half-marathon only the other day. I wanted to finish in under two hours, but my hip gave way, so I achieved two hours, three minutes. I was looking back at my split times and they’d been spot on until that point, so it means I’ll have to do another one. I’m not currently training for anything, but ask me again in six months.
Do you have any advice for today’s athletes? How best can they look after themselves?
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I’d say, don’t look after yourself, enjoy it. I wish I had tried to enjoy it more and had more memories. At the time, you think you’ll have four more Olympics, but stuff happens and you might not. Prioritise what you’re there for, but enjoy the experience as a whole. How many people get to say that they did it? Soak it all up!
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