Former European Junior badminton champion Sam Magee hangs up his racket

Sam Magee has announced his retirement from badminton, following a career that saw him compete with the world’s best and win plenty in the process.

McGee, 32, and a native of Raphoe, was the 2009 European Junior Champion in Milan in the boys’ doubles alongside Sylvain Grosjean from France.

Magee was a bronze medal winner three times at the European Games, in Minsk, Belarus, in 2019 and in Baku. Azerbaijan in 2015 in the mixed doubles alongside his sister, three-time Olympian Chloe. That year, Magee also teamed up with another sibling, brother Joshua, in Baku to take bronze as well.

At the 2017 European Championships in Kolding, Denmark, Sam and Chloe were also bronze-medal winners. The pair reached 21st in the world at their height and were winners of a host of international tournaments in Spain, Romania, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands and Russia. They were also Irish Open winners.

Competing in the men’s doubles, Magee was also a winner of the Banuinvest International Championships in Romania alongside Tony Stephenson, the Irish International with both Jonathan Dolan and Joshua Magee, and the Slovenia International, also playing with Joshua.

Magee will continue to be involved in the sport as a coach at Marino Institute of Education, where the Badminton Ireland High Performance Academy is based.

“Been debating this decision over for some time now but after 15 years of professional sport the time has come to hang up the racket,” Magee posted today.

“Grateful for all the life lessons, highs and many lows that comes with a career in Sports. I was blessed with some of the best coaches and support staff throughout my career who shaped me as the athlete and person I am today.

“To Badminton Ireland, Yonex, Irish Sports Institute, Sport Ireland, Olympic Council of Ireland and Donegal County Council, their support has been unwavering from day one, and continued support throughout my whole career, I am forever in their debt.

“European Junior Champion and achieving Ireland’s first major medals, winning the German Bundesliga with some amazing teammates in TVR Refrath will go down as the on court highlights.

“Proud to have contributed to creating a centre at home in Dublin to ensure the next generation of Irish Badminton stars has the possibilities to follow their dreams in Badminton, for many years to come.

“It takes two to tango so thanks to all my doubles partners for putting up with me , especially Chloe, never did we think starting out in Raphoe we would have a professional career, never mind being on European Podiums and being ranked 21 in the world.

“Lastly my family, friends and followers , massive thanks for all the support and kind messages over the years. Excited for the next chapter, and giving back to Badminton in a coaching capacity. Grateful!”