Being an athlete that is highly immune suppressed the official news by the IOC announcing overnight that the Tokyo Paralympics will be postponed for a year has come as relief.
It is absolutely devastating what is happening around the world and right now is certainly the time to look after our mental and physical health more than ever before!
Being one not to bend the rules or go against my own morals, I would be lying if I didn't say I had been weighing up the pros and cons of potentially having to travel and endangering my health during these very vulnerable times. After speaking to other athletes around the world, the feeling was mutual.
I believe the right decision has been made for the health and well-being of all athletes, teams, officials and all those that make the games what it is. We now have clarity to know 2020 isn't our year and to prepare for Tokyo 2021.
Before I go any further I would like to thank the Equestrian Australia High Performance team and Australian Paralympic Team for looking after us athletes and keeping us up to date as much as possible and offering support as we look forward.
Athletes train day in day out, we dedicate our whole lives and make sacrifices for this certain goal, for our sport, our countries and we do it because there's this little something deep inside of us whether it stems from a dream we had as a young kid or a dream that begun when we had to overcome some sort of adversity, whatever the reason the feeling is THERE and I tell you what, when it's there you cannot ignore that feeling, ever. It's there to stay.
For me I will never stop thriving for a games. I enjoy the journey too much. I love this sport with it's ups and downs. I love the passion of working with my horses, the daily and long term goals to work towards, the thrill of going down that centreline and putting all my training on show, it's also the small things such as sharing my journey with you guys.
It's no denying I've tried! and I do say this with humour and a dash of reality lol
2016 - I was short listed for Rio and I had to withdraw due to the diagnosis of my neck and the caution from 4 neurosurgeons.
2018 - I was ranked top 3 rider in Australia and for the first time Australia decided not to take a team for Worlds (WEG)
2020 - Short listed for Tokyo and well it speaks for itself.
3 times, you would think I would be throwing my toys on the ground and going 'that's it 3 strikes I'm out' - NO! I actually feel more empowered to dig my heels in deep and just keep looking forward!
Knowledge. Accept. Move Forward.
There is no point dwelling about things you cannot change.
Take care everyone!