For Emma Raducanu that dynamic is multiplied tenfold, especially heading into Wimbledon. Parents are front and centre of most tennis players’ lives because the elite pathway starts at a much earlier age than athletics.
While I was just trying out athletics at my local club, aged nine, at the same age Emma was already playing national competitions. Her parents needed to be involved, helping to navigate the national governing body, funding, coaches and medical support for their young daughter.
Once the action starts, her parents will be literally centre stage – sitting in the players’ box alongside the coach while TV cameras pan across, capturing even the most nuanced facial expressions, family dynamics seemingly blown up on our screens. All it takes is one look captured by photographers and it’s, “Gosh, he’s a pushy dad he’ll be furious after that game”. It runs away with itself. I think a lot of people are not really prepared for that level of scrutiny. But we live in a world now where, more than ever, everyone wants to know every little detail of someone’s life.
We have this really small snapshot of an athlete’s life, we judge them on first impressions and the headlines we have read and this preconception that if you are involved as a parent you are toxic.
‘Emma is doing amazing things for women’s sport’
Sometimes, of course, that might be the case. There was one girl who was coached by her dad when I was coming through as a junior. She was tall and strong and trained loads, four times a week, she was already doing weights and way ahead of everyone else. But I just remember her being really miserable and not enjoying being at competitions. You could see the pressure put on her by her dad. It is important to work as a team to get the balance right, so that coach and parent are not both coming as one big force on the athlete. That would be too much for anyone.
I think it takes a really rounded person to be able to be a coach and family member at the same time. You have to wear so many different hats, it is very tough.
But it can work. Jenny Meadows and Trevor Painter are a good example – he was her coach pretty much her whole career, and they are married. They are super successful and feed well off each other.
Returning to Wimbledon next week will be tough for Emma. Her last appearance there was stressful and prompted a national debate about mental health.
She came out of it amazingly, but no doubt she will still have those memories and emotions, and she will want to show how she has developed.
What we do know about Emma is her resilience to deal with pressure – from winning the US Open, to everything that has happened since, with juggling endorsements and the intense spotlight on her. She is doing amazing things for women’s sport, and her profile is great for women everywhere.
