Rachel+Olympics+Page



I wake up after a very long flight. The last thing I remember was a 'Good Luck' party at the Wellington Airport. I notice that I still have icing on my face from the cupcakes I got at the party with the coloured icing spelling out "Good Luck Kate McIlroy!" I quickly wipe it off, grab my bags from the overhead cupboards, and exit the plane.

I check into my hotel, where all the kiwi athletes are staying before they compete. I have a few days to prepare and to get over my jet lag, until it's my big race.

It's taken years to prepare for this very moment. Training 7 hours a day, six days a week. My heart is pumping, but I'm pretty sure it stopped completely when I heard the start gun, signalling the beginning of the women's triathlon at the 2012 London Olympics. I dive into the water at full speed. The chill of the water makes me shiver. But I swim the 1.5 km with ease, coming out of the water in 5th place.

My bike is parked at rack number 36. I sprint down the lane, planning my tactics for the 43 km bike ride. 34, 35, hooray. Finally rack number 36. I wipe myself with a towel, strap on my shoes, and clip on my helmet. I reach for the handle bars of my bike, when I suddenly realize that it's missing. I double check the number on my leg and compare it to the number on the metal bar. 36. That's me. So where is my bike?

I look around, and see that 10 competitors are already on their bikes and heading out of sight. I start to panic, as I watch more and more competitors pedal onto the road. That's when I notice, in the crowd, multiple security guards in fluro yellow reflective vests. They are grouped around a middle-aged man sitting on a bike. Wait a minute - that's my bike! I run over to the barrier separating the athletes from the spectators. I lean over, trying to get the guard's attention. But the noise of the crowd overpowers my frantic cries.

I am getting really desperate now, as I have gone from 5th to 35th. I climb over the barrier, push past the massive crowd, and grab my bike, no questions asked. I literally throw it and myself back over the barrier and get my mind back on what I came half way around the world to do. To win a gold medal.

After a gruelling 42 km, I've managed to wriggle my way into 17th place. All that's left is the run. All I think to myself as I drop off my bike, is that there is only 10 km between me and the 1st place podium. I was a world champion at steeple chasing before I started triathlons, so it's fair to say that running is my strong point.

It turned into a photo-finish for first place between me and Great Britain's Vicky Holland, which got the crowd excited. After a long wait, I bent down and had the gold medal placed around my neck, with New Zealand's national anthem playing, and the flag unfurling above the others.

The New Zealand women's hockey team, The Black Sticks started their London Olympic journey off to an excellent start by beating the Australian Hockeyroos 1-0 on the 29th of July. It was a vital win, given the extremely close competition.

It was the first time that the Black Sticks have beaten their Trans-Tasman rivals in the Olympic Games, which is both delight, and relief.

"It was a must win, given the ruthless pool we are in" said Black Sticks goal keeper, Bianca Russell. The 34-year-old made a couple of sharp saves, and was a significant help to shutting down the Australians. One of her saves was a diving effort to block a drag flick from a PC [penalty corner]. She said that PCs were always going to be a threat from Australia, so she had prepared for it.

Next up were South Africa.

As the world No 6, the New Zealanders are ranked six places higher than the South Africans, but they were careful to not act cocky. The Black Sticks won in a thrilling 4-1 showdown against South Africa. Charlotte Harrison scored a second-minute goal to open the match. Clarissa Eshuis scored from a PC later on, and then Captain Kayla Sharland scored just before the half time buzzer. South Africa scored early in the second half, but the skipper secured their win with a double, making it two wins from two games.

They then had a couple of days to prepare for Argentina, who are currently ranked No. 2 in the world. The match took place on Friday morning. The Black Sticks let in two sloppy goals, forcing them to chase the game. New Zealand got hopeful when Charlotte Harrison tapped on in from close range, but they still fell short, losing the game 2-1.

The Black Sticks must now beat the United States on Sunday to keep their medal chances alive before their final pool game against Germany.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The Black Sticks women have a modest Olympic record, their best finish being sixth in both 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens). They were 12th and last in Beijing four years ago. If they beat South Africa, and get a point or three against Argentina, then that modest record might change.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Source: I mixed articles/updates from [|www.nzherald.co.nz]



<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">"The Olympic Games isn't all about the athletes who wear medals around their necks. Every <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">athlete has already succeeded in striving towards their goal of being the best that they can <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">be, and have improved their skills along the way." Rachel

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sport: Triathlon <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Age: 30 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Born: 1981 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Place of birth: Wellington

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Kate McIlroy is a former World Mountain Running Champion and steeplechaser. She was named Sportswoman <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">of the Year in 2005. She started competing in triathlons in late 2008. She took out her first World Cup title in 2009 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">and finished 6th at the World Champs Grand Final in Beijing in 2011. She ended that year with a world ranking of <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">17. This will be Kate's first Olympic Games.



<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Every four years, each nation is so proud, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> We gather together, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> And cheer very loud

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> We are all victors, no matter where we are from, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Africa, Canada or Sweden, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> As long as we try, we can't be beaten

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Even just to be there, is still really amazing, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Equestrian, rowing or high jump, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> No matter what you are playing

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Stand tall on the podium, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> The best athletes in the world, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Watch with pride, as their flag is unfurled.