What? The Olympic Games are only a hundred days away? Wow! That’s hard to believe! It may surprise many of you to know that the only reason I know this little fact is because I was asked how I felt about this a couple of days ago by a reporter. Why didn’t I know this? Because, truth be told, I have not been following the media hype about the Olympics. I have not been glued to my television screen watching the Torch Relay. And I have not been spending my spare moments looking at either the Olympic medals or the athlete clothing, waiting for the day. And how do I feel about this 100 day marker, you might ask? Well, it’s not an easy answer.
Am I excited about the Games? Yes and no. Let me explain… Yes, I am excited like every Canadian that the Olympics are going to be held on our Canadian soil, for all the world to see how wonderful our country is and how hospitable our Canadians. But... it’s hard to get excited about competing in the Games, when I won’t even know until the middle of January if I’ve made the Canadian Olympic team. And I know it’s cliché, but if I only focus on the destination and the goal, and not the steps along the way, then I will not be successful in even making it there For me (and many athletes), the Olympics are not 100 days away. They are a full World Cup Circuit away. They are 8 World Cup races away. They are 8 races in 5 different countries away. They are a LOT of training sessions, sore muscles, and phone calls to home away!
And yes, representing my country is always an honour, and the thought of competing on behalf of my fellow Canadians in front of friends and family – those who have helped make me the person and athlete I am today – is definitely exciting. I know what it’s like to compete for Canada on home soil! The last Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2006 was hosted in Edmonton. It was such a great feeling, but was also very difficult not wanting to let people down, especially with them there watching! Yes, these Games will be a much bigger deal in the media, with added scrutiny. But pressure is what you put on yourself.
The idea of walking out of the start house to the starting block, staring down the track while waiting for the green light to flash, with a sea of red lining the track with thunderous cheering only somewhat muffled by my helmet… that’s exhilarating! But, for me, this excitement is muted – contained and controlled because of not wanting to get ahead of myself! As I already mentioned, there’s a long season first. And there are no guarantees! And whether people are watching or not, whether media is there or not… I still have a job to do! And, if I am given the opportunity to push a Canadian sled in the 2010 Olympics, it will be amazing! But it will also be the same job that I have to do for this whole season, one race at a time!
