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What Happened in Beijing... |
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Written by Mari
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Monday, 25 August 2008 |
What Happened in Beijing…
The two weeks leading up to the Games could not have gone better, training wise that is. I was feeling really good, swimming better than ever and riding amazingly well and it started as if I was getting my running back on track again…and most of all I was excited, I wanted to go out there and race. I decided that a Top 20 was what I wanted.
 Thinking back now my problems started the Friday before the race. It was a rest day and also the day that I make sure everything is ready for race day, including my bike. I had my racing wheels put on my bike and went for a little ride in the village. My gears where slipping terribly and the bike just did not feel right. I immediately took it to the mechanic who checked it out. Saturday we were back out onto the course and still my bike was not even close to being suitable to race an Olympic race on it.We moved back out to the race site on that day, but my bike went back to the village to get “fixed”. I was told not to worry, it will be sorted.Sunday afternoon I got my bike back and took it for a little spin, I kept on getting off to see if the brake blocks weren’t rubbing…something didn’t feel right. But I was assured the bike mechanic had checked it and it was fine. So off my bike went to be checked in for the race. THE RACE:I was honestly just so excited to be able to race in the Olympic Games. My starting position on the pontoon was in the middle of nowhere because of my low ranking, but I could not be bothered. I easily swam myself up to the first few positions and just sat there. It was fairly easy and I knew it was going to be a good day.
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Written by Mari
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Tuesday, 22 July 2008 |
Qualified&Selected for Beijing
It is official, I am actually going to the Olympic Games!!! I am really excited and looking forward to my first Olympic experience. I am still In Yorkshire for one more week, I have been training up here for the last 3 weeks. I am heading home on Sunday and then I will do my final preparation in Stellebosch before we leave for Beijing in August.
I would just like to thank, my Dad for funding most of my Olympic qualifying process, my coach Libby Burrell for all her hard work that goes beyond just training,Carol Austin, our High Performance director and TSA for all their support during the last two years.
(photo-Hennie Rudman)
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