Georgia Jones

This means that to remain healthy, she must endure 4 daily injections of insulin, and take regular blood samples to test blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes must not be confused with the increasingly common type 2 diabetes which is associated with obesity; Georgia Jones is more active than most women her age, training, on average, 6 times per week in the gym and on court.

Probably her greatest night was September 22nd 2007 when Georgia and the rest of the Great British Women’s team beat The Netherlands to take Great Britain into Eurobasket Group A, a night she will surely never forget.

I caught up with Georgia after a fantastic game at the Amaechi Centre Manchester, against the Rhondda Rebels. I began by asking Georgia about her family and basketball background; it would be impossible to talk about her basketball career without mentioning her father Jeff Jones, one of the first stars of the BBL, and current coach of EBL Division one team, The Manchester Magic.

What was it like growing up in a Basketball family and how old were you when you started playing?

I started playing when I was about six, but from whenever I can remember really I’ve been playing, especially being around my Dad. My brothers play as well, so I was always just dragged along and put on the sidelines. So I used to dribble up and down the sidelines. If I didn’t play, it’s almost like you’re left out and you’re not part of the loop, but, I was sort of destined to play.

Was there ever a time when you thought you would do something different, for example, another sport or a different hobby or was it always basketball?

Yeah, I’ve played pretty much every sport, although my mum tried to get me into some dance lessons as well, but I was definitely not going to go down that route! It’s mainly been basketball above anything else, I’ve not really enjoyed anything more than that.

Who is your hero – sporting or otherwise?

I don’t really have a sporting hero, I look up to players obviously, in the WNBA, NBA and even players in Europe. Someone who I really respect, would be my Dad because of what he’s done in his career, not just basketball [on court], but how he’s coached youngsters and got them playing. And he basically started me off and got me to where I am now. I owe quite a bit of my success to him.

I took a sneaky look at your Mystics biog where you list representing Great Britain as your favourite Basketball moment! What was it like to play at that level, and more importantly, how did it feel to get into Eurobasket Group A?

Intense first of all, it’s just such a big jump up to that level, even playing for England at Cadet and Junior level, Under 16s and Under 18s, it’s just such a big jump.

I’ve been playing in the women’s league in England for a few years now, you don’t expect [such a difference], it’s a shock. It’s a really great feeling to know that you’re out there, and you’ve really achieved something! It’s great when everyone is playing hard.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years; 2012?

Well, obviously my main aim is for the Olympics in 2012. I’m hoping to be going to America, next year to college to play basketball there, or to play in Europe, depending on what offers I get. That’s my main aim after college is to get to [The Olympics in] 2012.

I’m sure you will do it as well, you are a really strong player. Speaking of school, are you at College now? What are you studying, and how on earth do you find the time?

It is difficult, but I’ve grown up in it, I’m just used to it really, obviously I’ve always been training, maybe not as much as just recently. I’ve always had to fit it in where I can I am quite good at making sure that in the time that I do have, I make sure that I get stuff done when I need to.

What do you do in your downtime, if you have any?

Sleep, erm, I have good friends who come and watch me play and stuff. They understand what I’m trying to get to, so if I miss a few birthday parties it’s ok, but I try and make sure I make time for them.

Now a little more serious, my research tells me that you suffer from diabetes, I have a few questions about this; how old were you when you were diagnosed?

I was seven, I’ve had it for quite a long time.

What first prompted your parents to get you tested?

I lost quite a lot of weight and I was drinking too much really. At first, My parents thought I was just being greedy because it was around Christmas time, and I was going through so much drink, and coupled with the weight loss, my parents were quite worried and decided to get some tests done. But we didn’t even think it would be diabetes.

Is it in your family at all?

No, it’s just totally random, it’s in my distant family, but no blood relatives.

How do you manage your condition?

I have four insulin injections a day, and I monitor my blood sugar levels when I can, quite a lot.

Does it affect what you can eat and drink?

Yes, it’s quite good playing sports as you can have sugar and stuff, to get your sugars back up, but I have to watch my diet. It’s mainly about having a balanced diet.

How does it affect your training?

I just test before training and after training, and if I do go low I will just get a bit of Lucozade or have a snack, and after ten minutes I will feel alright. I judge it now, so I’ll test an hour before training and then if I am low, I will eat something.

Are your parents quite overprotective because of your diabetes?

Yeah, they were when I was younger, definitely, it’s all the check lists when you’re going out … Have you got your insulin? Have you got your glucose tablets? But if they weren’t like that I don’t know what I would have done, because at first you do need someone to go on at you. Its been a real help really, but it’s not too bad now though. I sort of know what I’m doing now!

How does it affect your game?

It does, I’d like to say it doesn’t, either way I have to get the balance right, if I go too high, or too low, it kind of has the same effect, I just run out of energy. Some people think that if you get high blood sugar you can just go even harder, but it’s different, you just have no energy. I don’t think I’ve asked for a sub in about three years, but if it does get really bad, I just give myself an injection if I get too high, or eat something if I get too low.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well, hopefully, if I’m still fit and healthy, playing professionally somewhere in Europe maybe, the WNBA would be the main top goal. It depends really what life throws at you. But I’m quite big on my education, because I know that Basketball will be just a short term thing; hopefully it won’t be, but just in case. I’m studying Business Studies, Psychology and English Literature.

As a woman in sport, what would you like to see more of in terms of the media’s representation of female sports persons?

I just think more of it really, and more range, I mean we don’t enough. We see runners like Paula Radcliffe which is great, but compared to men and the range of sports, I just don’t think there’s enough of it. In America you can see the Women’s College teams playing on TV, it’s still not as much as men, but at least you see it! Whereas in England it’s like – ‘Women play basketball? What?’ It’s netball! So I just think more of it. I mean there’s enough of us out there taking sport seriously.

Finally, what is your life mantra?

Well, as a sports person I suppose it’s “Hard Work and Determination gets you where you want to be”. From someone who loves the game as much as I do, I know that if you didn’t love it, you wouldn’t get anywhere at all. You’re up all hours training, or getting work done, it’s such a difficult thing to do and people don’t realise. Loads of people do it, and people just say “Oh they play a bit of sport on the weekends,” you know what I mean, and I just think if you do really love it then you’ll get to the places you want to be because you do put the determination into it.

Well, I have to say it was refreshing to find such a hard working and brave young woman with such a sensible head on her shoulders. She is a fantastic role model to the scores of young girls who turn out week after week to watch the Mystics play, and I’m sure you’ll agree, she will go very far.

Della JACOBS

New Photo added 2021