It is with great excitement that I can now share the news that I, alongside my pilot Maddie Janssen have been named in the Australian Paralympic Cycling Team for the 2016 Rio Paralympics!
It has been a fantastic few days as we joined with fellow teammates, the Australian Paralympic Committee, Cycling Australia and guests at the Cycling Australia High Performance Unit in Adelaide to not only celebrate the team announcement but reaching the #100daystogo milestone.
(Watch the announcement here!)
For me personally, it is the fifth Australian Paralympic team that I have been selected in (Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016). Five games in eight years boy how the time has flown, it’s also my third Paralympic sport (athletics, alpine skiing, track cycling) crazy, I know. My athletics and alpine skiing days feel like decades ago!
(Boarding passes are ready!)
(Our smiles say it all!)
Now that we can officially tell all our family, friends and supporters the excitement really starts building and it’s lucky we were selected as my brother said ‘well that’s good news because I already bought my flights and tickets!’
What I love about the Paralympic Games and the building excitement is that it brings back so many special memories for me, the highs, the lows, the intense challenges that have shaped who I am as an athlete but more importantly as a person. Whilst each Paralympic Games has similarities they are also completely different, especially when you compare a summer and winter Paralympics so I can’t wait to see what magic Rio holds.
I am also incredibly excited to be sharing these moments with my pilot Maddie. Less than a year ago she committed to this goal and has thrown her heart and soul into it. When we first began I promised her that if she jumped in the deep end she would get the rewards. When I think back to Beijing, my first Paralympics I remember how the experiance completely blew my mind and was far greater than I could ever have imagined- despite being banned from competition so I can’t wait to see Maddie exerpeince her first Paralympics!
The next 100 days are going to be intense- hours upon hours of hard work, dedication and discpline to achieving our dreams- the moments where the one percenter’s make all the difference and where we leave no stone unturned and we look forward to sharing those 100 days with you all!
Jess
