The time is finally upon us.
The World is watching. A new flame will be ignited.
In less than two weeks time, one of the world’s largest
sporting events will kick off in Vancouver, the Winter Olympics. This has been a moment I have been waiting
for and anticipating, for many years.
This has been a dream and goal of mine since 2006 when I decided that I
wanted to compete at the Vancouver Olympics. This is the time to shine.
Although this season has been filled with the highest of
highs and the lowest of lows, anything is possible over the next couple of
weeks. The pressure, the anticipation
and the expectations have taken the spirit of the games and put them slightly
out of reach of the athletes. That will
end the moment the flame is lit. I have
never been more prepared in my life for an Olympic Games, I have no regrets and
I understand that it is an opportunity that I will never again get.
As the world is coming to “our” stomping grounds, it is time
to put on our game faces and take them head on.
They say that pressure is a good thing. It is there because people believe in
you. I believe that it has the power to
inspire and the power to debilitate and as an athlete it is a constant
balancing act. I have dealt with different levels of pressure throughout my
life and sporting career and I think that it has all been in preparation for
the 2010 Olympic Games. This year I
finally overcame my nemesis, the Lake Louise World Cup. I finally embraced the
pressure of competing at home instead of reacting to it. My results at the beginning of the season
were an important building block and accomplishment for my goals this year at
the Olympics.
These next two weeks are probably going to be some of the
hardest weeks of my life. I have big
goals and big expectations. I know that I need to work hard in order to succeed
but I also know that I need to have fun and enjoy it all in order to succeed.
It is all too easy to forget to stop and look around and enjoy the atmosphere,
mood and environment. One of the benefits of a home Games is all the people on
“your” side; all the people rooting for you.
I need to embrace that side of it and enjoy the process. In the world of sports it is so easy to get
fixated on the end result when in reality that is probably the worst thing you
can do. Ideally, it should be all about the process, having your best run on
that day and having no regrets. My goal is to have a smile on my face when I
leave the start gate and to have confidence in my abilities to execute my
goals.
There will be many stories of success that will unfold over
the next couple of weeks. There will be
many stories of defeat also told. There
will be the underdogs that shined and the favourites who fell short but what we
all have in common is the passion, dedication, support and perseverance that
got us there. The Olympic Games is the
bringing together of the world’s best athletes and to just be a part of such
amazing company is what the Olympic spirit is all about. There is no doubt in my mind that the
Canadian athletes will do us proud.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will live up to the expectations of
a nation. There is no doubt that this
will be an experience of a life time and I look forward to sharing my story
after the Games come to an end at the end of February. Until then, watch, cheer, believe and support
the athletes, coaches and support staff that have dedicated their lives to this
powerful, uniting event; the Winter Olympic Games.
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