Wearing the “Green and Gold” gives you strength

If there is one thing I wish for my children to experience in their lifetime it would be to represent their country at the Commonwealth Games.

It is something I have worked towards my whole life.  From when I was 8 I just wanted to go to the Commonwealth Games. These are the pinnacle events in any Australian kid’s life and it makes me hugely proud to look in the mirror and see the “Green and Gold”.

This is my second Commonwealth Games and it took a lot for me to get there this time.  It has been a roller coaster ride, battling surgery, interruptions, working through rehab, etc.  The one thing that has got me through my tough times was thinking of being on that court wearing the “Green and Gold” and being proud of what I had achieved and knowing I can do amazing things while wearing it.

My coach Rodney Eyles said in one of our team meetings “Wearing the Green and Gold is so powerful, it gives you strength and it makes you play with such passion”.  It is so true. 

Trying to find one word that describes what representing Australia means to me is tough.  You just don’t want to under rate the feeling, the experience, the achievement and the honor.

Pride

I draw so much strength from wearing the Green and Gold. It gives me that extra motivation to represent my country well and reminds me of what it's all about.

 The Rush

Stepping out into the main arena gives you the biggest thrill ever and a rush of adrenaline that quickly reminds you that you are not only competing for yourself but for your country. Feelings of representing, involvement, achievement, confidence and that you are significant all hit you at once when 40,000 people all welcome you and cheer you on when you walk through the arena during the opening ceremony.

Honour

Gives me that boost in training and competing when I think about whom I’m representing: my country; my sport; my club; my family and supporters; myself!

You feel a sense of achievement from the very moment you arrive into the Athlete village, being presented with your Australian uniform and getting together with all the Australian team to be welcomed and congratulated on your selection.  Ever member of the team comes together as one.  Each and every individual is a piece of the jigsaw puzzle supporting one another to achieve unity.

I would like to take this time to thank everyone for your incredible messages of love and support before and during the Games. I read and appreciated every one of them.  They made me feel so good and gave me an added incentive to do my best!

And a few quotes to end on…

“Whether you succeed or fail, it was you, nobody else.”

“You’ve got to chase your dreams, because they won’t chase you”