Gillian M. Gilks (formerly Gillian Perrin, and later Gillian Goodwin; born 20 June 1950) is an English former

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racket (sports equipment), racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net (device), net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per s ...

player who won numerous major titles in all three events (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s. Gilks was the first ever women's singles world number one in the first IBF world ranking release in 1978. Tall and slender in her badminton prime, with elegant, accurate strokes, Gilks is the most successful player ever in the

European Badminton Championships The European Badminton Championships is a tournament organized by the Badminton Europe (BE). It represents the highest level of continental competition in European badminton, and the winners of each event are recognised as the European champions. ...

with 12 titles, two of them in women's singles, four in women's doubles and six in mixed doubles. She is also one of the most successful players in the long history of the

All England Open Championships The All England Open Badminton Championships is the world's oldest badminton tournament, held annually in England. With the introduction of the BWF's latest grading system, it was given Super Series status in 2007, upgraded to Super Series Premie ...

with eleven titles; two in women's singles, three in women's doubles, and six in mixed doubles. In 1976 she won all three events at the All Englands making her the last person to "sweep the board" there in a single year. She also won a Gold and bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics when badminton was played as a demonstration sport. In 1999 she was inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame.

Personal life

She married 29 year old Michael Gilks of Newcastle Lyme, an umpire of the Badminton Association of England, and electrical engineer, on 26 September 1970 in Epsom, and moved to Kings Heath. She was awarded the MBE in the

1976 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1976 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1976 to celebra ...

. She moved to Steyning.''Staffordshire Sentinel'' Friday 9 January 1976, page 22

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

''Women's singles'' ''Mixed doubles''

World Championships

''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

World Cup

''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

World Games

''Mixed doubles''

Commonwealth Games

''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

European Championships

''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006. ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

International tournaments

''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gilks, Gillian 1950 births Living people Sportspeople from Epsom English female badminton players Badminton players at the 1972 Summer Olympics Olympic badminton players for Great Britain World Games gold medalists for Great Britain World Games medalists in badminton Medalists at the 1981 World Games Badminton players at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Badminton players at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Commonwealth Games gold medallists in badminton Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Commonwealth Games silver medallists in badminton Medallists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Members of the Order of the British Empire World No. 1 badminton players 20th-century English sportswomen