I’m back home now after a couple of brilliant weeks, so I thought I’d just spill the beans on what I’ve been up to.
After all the excitement at the pool for the Commonwealth Games, some of my teammates and I decided to stay in Delhi and see a few sights. Perhaps India’s most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, was absolutely amazing, truly one of the best sights I’ve ever seen - just pipping the Great Wall of China to first place!
We also went shopping to one of Delhi’s many markets, where I bought a very cute jewellery box. When we weren’t out and about, my fiancée, David, and I spent a lot of time around Scotland House – which was great fun. I also really enjoyed the closing ceremony where David was brought out on a tuktuk!
The morning after the ceremony, I had to be up early for the flight home, and it was great to touchdown in England after a few weeks away. I spent first the few days back in Manchester with my family - we had a party, my mum made cup-cakes and my favourite meal!!!
After the welcome home, it was down to London for a few days with my sponsors, Speedo. Becky Adlington, Liam Tancock and I all went to watch Arsenal play a Champions League game and were invited out onto the pitch at half time, we got an amazing response from the crowd! The next day the three of us had a Speedo photoshoot outside its flagship store in Covent Garden and following that we did some media interviews and taught a handful of journalists how to improve their stroke!
The day after I did a talk with another sponsor, Lloyds TSB. They were giving a staff member tickets to the opening ceremony for the Olympics in 2012 – it’s really getting that close, how exciting!
So it was a busy return from Delhi! After London, it was back up North and some wedding planning with David – scary!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
A Dream Come True!
What an amazing, but challenging, few weeks it has been!
I'm writing this while watching the rugby 7's Tonga v Papa New Guinea match. One of the best parts about being at a multi-sport event such as the Commonwealth Games is that you’re able to watch all the other sports after you have competed, which I am enjoying very much!!
The biggest challenge for me since I’ve been in Delhi has been the anticipation and waiting around I had to endure before my swim. Five long days of watching my teammates win medals or narrowly miss out on making finals - the highs and lows of swimming! That said, the athlete village was great. Everything in my room was clean and working so I was very happy to spend time before race day in comfortable surroundings. And the food hall is every athlete’s dream! A room with all kinds of (great) food, ready for you, when you want it, amazing!
Eventually Day 6 of the swimming programme arrived and with it the 400m I.M. - my chance to show what I could do. After a comfortable heat I was the fastest qualifier, but I didn't read too much into that as I knew the meet had been long and most of the girls were tired. I just decided to enjoy it, waving at the camera as the announcer called my name.
It might have been one of the hardest races I have ever done and I remember screaming at myself to dig deep in the last 25m. I didn't want to come 4th. After touching the wall I didn't know the result and didn't want to look in case it wasn't what I wanted to see. I must have taken about 30 seconds to turn around and see that I had come 3rd!! Finally a pool medal, the one I desperately wanted!! Standing on that podium was an amazing feeling, one I will remember forever!
I’m going to be staying in India for the rest of the week and will be doing a bit of sightseeing – I’ll let you know how I’m getting on!
I'm writing this while watching the rugby 7's Tonga v Papa New Guinea match. One of the best parts about being at a multi-sport event such as the Commonwealth Games is that you’re able to watch all the other sports after you have competed, which I am enjoying very much!!
The biggest challenge for me since I’ve been in Delhi has been the anticipation and waiting around I had to endure before my swim. Five long days of watching my teammates win medals or narrowly miss out on making finals - the highs and lows of swimming! That said, the athlete village was great. Everything in my room was clean and working so I was very happy to spend time before race day in comfortable surroundings. And the food hall is every athlete’s dream! A room with all kinds of (great) food, ready for you, when you want it, amazing!
Eventually Day 6 of the swimming programme arrived and with it the 400m I.M. - my chance to show what I could do. After a comfortable heat I was the fastest qualifier, but I didn't read too much into that as I knew the meet had been long and most of the girls were tired. I just decided to enjoy it, waving at the camera as the announcer called my name.
It might have been one of the hardest races I have ever done and I remember screaming at myself to dig deep in the last 25m. I didn't want to come 4th. After touching the wall I didn't know the result and didn't want to look in case it wasn't what I wanted to see. I must have taken about 30 seconds to turn around and see that I had come 3rd!! Finally a pool medal, the one I desperately wanted!! Standing on that podium was an amazing feeling, one I will remember forever!
I’m going to be staying in India for the rest of the week and will be doing a bit of sightseeing – I’ll let you know how I’m getting on!
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