Lewisham netball player ready for GB action at Commonwealth Youth Games
BY JAMES REID
With family from Australia and Jamaica, Izzi Phillips was always destined to be a netballer and now the Lewisham star is ready to represent both her country and her heritage in the Caribbean this summer.
The 17-year-old is heading to Trinidad & Tobago this summer to represent Team England at the Commonwealth Youth Games, with more than 1,000 young athletes set to descend on the twin islands.
Phillips is hoping for a carnival on and off the court, with the squad setting their sights on the inaugural gold medal as well as enjoying the multi-sport Games experience.
“I can’t wait,” said Phillips.
“I am still in disbelief that I am going, I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet.
“Not only as a team can we display all of our hard work and show that to people but away from the court, this is our first big multi-sport competition and being able to meet people from other sports and other countries, all being around each other and embracing different cultures.
“Being from the Caribbean myself, it is almost like a mix, representing my country and also seeing parts of my heritage.
“I am from Jamaica but Trinidad has a big carnival, the opening ceremony is based on that so it is very exciting.
“The level of competition is going to be so high. It will be a great time to represent and give back to everyone who has been involved in getting us here and showing this is England, this is what we are about, and this is what the future holds.”
If Phillips needs any inspiration ahead of the Games then she does not have to look further than her own Super League side, London Pulse.
The capital’s franchise finished top of the league for the first time in its history, before narrowly missing out on the title in the Grand Final.
But Phillips, who is part of Pulse’s U19 squad, hailed the franchise’s embrace of youth and diversity – something she is intent on representing in an England dress this summer.
“I am born and raised in London,” she said. “Pulse was the place to be, so being there from so young and seeing the players take on the big challenges, it is just so inspiring.
“Pulse has been on such a journey and I’m around high-level performance. I will be training and see the Super League players two courts down – that is the biggest motivation. I want to be like them.
“It is a really exciting place to be, everyone is pushing each other really hard.
“It’s that idea of knowing that black people can be in the conversation and being able to see that and not tiptoeing around it. We are embracing our culture.”
Follow Team England’s performances at Trinbago 2023 at www.teamengland.org #BringItHome