OLYMPIC EXPERIENCES

The Olympics are always described as the greatest sporting show on earth and this is because each games is an unrivaled experience and also the very elite competitors from each sport are competing for the accolade of Olympic champion which for most, defines the pinnacle of their sporting careers.

I have been to Three Olympic games, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992.Each one is always a truly unique experience whether being there as a competitor or a spectator. It can be the defining moment for many athletes, as the Olympic medal is the most treasured and recognised of all.

My first Olympic experience started after the moment I touched the wall first on the 200m backstroke at the Olympic trials in a new British record time. I was 14years old. I was on my way to Los Angeles. However I found that all Olympics follow a similar pattern of events before, during and after the games.

Many things happen once you are on the Olympic team the media pressure locally intensifies with many newspaper, t.v and radio interviews. . All of a sudden everyone thinks that you are going to come home with a gold medal around your neck!

Then there is the trip to the chosen outfitters be measured for the Olympic uniform and then the collection in London of the complete team kit issue and sponsorship goodies and gifts to all Olympic team members. There are also training camps both at home and abroad before we leave for the games.

It is usual for the Great Britain team to have a chartered jumbo jet for the main body of the team so this can be very exciting as this is where you start to meet some of the other sporting stars.
Once we arrive, we go to a holding camp, which is sometimes in another part of the country of the games or even a separate island nearby!

While on the training camp final preparations are underway for refining your race preparation. Media interest is kept to a minimum and we are all encouraged to rest and eat sensibly as often there are many distractions and the food is normally very good so it is easy to put on weight!

The last leg of our preparation is the arrival and entry into the Olympic village. This can be a long and painful process if you happen to lose or pack your passport elsewhere! We wait to have our photos taken for our accreditation which is like gold dust as this allows you entry to the Olympic village, swimming pool, main stadium and if this is lost (it has happened to some of my team-mates) then there are some big consequences. Therefore everyone has to wear this accreditation around their neck permenantly so you can be identified and checked. Maybe one day they will microchip all athletes!

The Olympic village is normally like a small town, with shopping mall, beauty salon, swimming pool, gym, playstation and computer rooms, 24hour restaurants and of course rooms for the athletes and many coaches and officials. There is a big chance of sharing a slice of Pizza or a coffee with your most favourite sporting star and probably becoming good friends with many of them over the 2-3 weeks that you are there.

The lead up to the games can be very energy consuming and although I loved every minute of the experience I sometimes wonder if I had had the choice I would of flown in later to arrive just a few days before my events to save precious energy. I remember hearing that Steve Redgrave and team mates in 1988 in Seoul did this and then moved out of the village because it was too noisy and distracting. However this could mean missing possibly the most amazing, adrenaline stoking part of walking out, in your Olympic uniform in front of the crowed stadium to witness the opening ceremony of the games. This is one of my most treasured memories.

Of course the most important thing is the racing. On all three of the occasions that I competed in the Olympics I remember the intensity of the situation being like nothing else I had ever experienced. I didn't win a medal but made the semi finals at two Olympics achieving 11th place in 1984 and an English record in 1988 on the 100mBackstroke.

The games always have a closing ceremony, which has a carnival, party atmosphere. This is where telephone numbers, e-mail addresses are exchanged to all those that you shared your experience with. It is also where the champions rejoice and those that have aspired to that make their resolutions for the next four years of sacrifice and practice.

When you hear the words "let the games begin" this August you may now appreciate and understand a little of the journey that an athlete goes through at the games. Good luck to all you armchair athletes out there!