Sally Hill sat on the sidelines of history during the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
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The Leeton-based physio volunteered her expertise to the millennium games as part of the athletes' team of health specialists.
"A lot of the wealthier countries brought their own physios and health providers, but the host country does provide a polyclinic," Mrs Hill said.
"In the clinic, we assessed and treated any injuries. At the venues, we assessed any on-the-day injuries, did pre-event massages and strapping, that kind of thing."
Most of the more notable athletes from around the world brought their own specialists, meaning Mrs Hill's services were generally not required.
"We didn't actually meet a lot of the bigger names because they had their own teams," she said.
"Mostly we worked on athletes from African nations and Eastern Europe. I treated one girl who told me about how it had taken her four days to get from her hometown in Africa to Sydney for the games.
"I also met a weightlifter from Eastern Europe which was exciting."
Not only were the athletes' stories eye-opening, but also the various injuries they brought in from sports Mrs Hill had never confronted before.
"Handball was a sport I knew nothing about," she said.
"It's very fast and physical with a lot of contact."
To attend the two-week event 500km away from her home in Leeton required a few sacrifices for Mrs Hill, including having to close the Leeton Physiotherapy Centre for the duration of the games.
But, she said, to be at the Olympics in her capacity as a health worker made the journey worth it.
"It was exciting, a real privilege to be there and to actually be able to go inside the athletes' village and see the big names walking around," Mrs Hill said.
Were you a volunteer in the Sydney 2000 Olympics? Send your Olympics memories to news@irrigator.com.au