Aussie athletes are feeling the love from home, according to Griffith Paralympian Joany Badenhorst.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“Being part of the Australian team was one of the most amazing experiences ever,” Ms Badenhorst said.
“So many things run through your head just before your event – you’re surrounded by the best of the best in the world – so knowing you have love and support from home really calms you down.”
Aussie athletes have begun arriving in Brazil ahead of the August 5 opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and Ms Badenhorst says they’ll be feeling a mixture of excitement and impatience.
“They’ve been working toward it for so long and to finally wear the colours and represent their country and show what they’re wanting to do is incredible,” she said.
“Two weeks out they’re still caught up in the excitement to wear the green and gold tracksuit as they step into the village for the first time, they want to show what they’ve been working towards for the last four years.
“The nerves never hit me until two mins before I race, but then when I get to the bottom I want to go straight back up and do it all again!”
Even if their tracksuit might be a “fashion disaster”, but when you’re in the village it’s the best thing you’ve ever worn, Ms Badenhorst said.
The world-class snowboarder was part of the team at the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games in Russia. Her event, para-snowboarding, made its debut at the games, making Ms Badenhorst the first Australian to compete.
Sadly, an accident on the final training run of the day saw Ms Badenhorst stretchered off the mountain, but despite the setback the support of Australians around the world helped her get through it.
“I was the last girl in my division to practice before the race, I misjudged an angle and crashed,” she said.
”One of the worst feelings in the world was thinking I had spent eight months training just to go down the mountain in a bucket in excruciating pain.
“Everyone was disappointed in what had happened to me and I was welcomed with so much love from everyone, from people who helped fundraise for equipment and to get me there, they couldn’t be prouder.”
Every athlete in Rio feels the “incredible mateship” bonding Aussies together, Ms Badenhorst said, the excitement spurring them on.
“Everyone who knows of an athlete will wake up early and watch them, not one athlete doubts that their home crowd is excited,” she said.
“I think people should send those messages of support to the team, there’s nothing more reassuring than getting those messages.
“It’s incredible, I got them from kids I coached and there were all there little pics of Mum and Dad at schools with kids and banners supporting me and passing on their love, I’m getting excited now and I’m not even part of it this time!”