Bankier will know until next May whether she will definitely be competing at London 2012 with mixed doubles partner Chris Adcock (pictured right), but as the current top British mixed doubles pair in the world, she should have the chance to achieve her dream and try to win an Olympic medal.

Telling insidethegames that she can definitely win gold, she cautions that "the main bit now is qualifying".

"Having played at the [London 2012] venue our advantage is massive, the home crowd cannot be underestimated and having reached the world final shows our potential," she added.

"We have improved since then and still are now.

"I don't see why it can't be gold next time if we stay focused and on track."

Bankier is one of a number of athletes involved in Cadbury's campaigns leading up to the Olympic Games in July, and appears in an advert launched this week which features her and a number of Britain's racket sports stars in a music video.

It is part of the 'Keep Team GB Pumped' campaign, which Cadbury's hope will get the British public supporting their hopes at London 2012 through music.

If Bankier, who became the first Scot to reach a World Championship final, and Adcock can repeat their performance at Wembley earlier this year, where they finished second and missed out on gold to Chinese top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, glory in London next year is a real possibility.

"It was absolutely amazing - the most exciting week of my whole life," she said.

"It was such a great run, everything clicked and it all came together.

"We had good wins in the past but nothing came together at the same time for so many games in a row.

"Playing at home at Wembley arena really inspired us, we had a huge crowd supporting us and we gained momentum.

"In the final we were outclassed slightly but to even reach that exceeded our expectations."


Bankier hopes that badminton's profile can increase as a result of the Olympic Games, saying: "If I inspire people to play badminton or be a role model it's my job done.

"The Olympic Games will be such a good chance for badminton to showcase what it's all about.

"As role models it's on our shoulders and we're responsible for making it an advertisement for badminton.

"It's really important people watch badminton on television and they will be encouraged to play.

"That's the whole point of the Olympic legacy – it's really important to us."

Whilst the 24-year-old is eagerly anticipating a home Games she is also looking to the Commonwealth Games, which will be played in her home town of Glasgow in 2014.

"I am still reasonably young but having a home Games is such a one off experience – I also have a Commonwealth Games in my home town of Glasgow.

"What an opportunity [it is] to have an opportunity to play in London and Glasgow.

"I am still young and I have thoughts for Rio 2016 so hopefully I'll remain fit and healthy."

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