My experience

Maltese athlete Tanya Blake reflects on the many ups and few downs of her experience in the Athens Games

Very few people get to compete in the Olympics and even fewer gain the chance to know someone who has competed in the Games.

So I thought that I would write and share this wonderful experience with those back home.

The Maltese team left on August 11 and we were given a very warm send-off at the airport which was so nice. One thing that I love about being an athlete is that everyone can share in it. My family and friends are more excited than I am.

After a short flight we arrived in Athens, and the first thing we saw everywhere are the Olympic rings. "This is it," I tell myself, "You made it."

We were met by friendly volunteers holding signs that read 'Welcome Olympic family'. From there, we proceeded to the Olympic Village which definitely has a family atmosphere. There are athletes from literally every country in the world, exchanging pins and making new friends.

Being at the Olympics will mean something different to everyone. For me, it is simply amazing and it was worth every setback, sacrifice or injury. I have never felt such an immense sense of satisfaction in my life.

In my humble opinion, the secret to happiness is all about how you handle the hard times. God gives us these, to test us, and prepare us for greater things.

I have really enjoyed sharing this experience with the other Maltese athletes. On average, we have a very young and inexperienced team. I have a lot of respect for them because to be thrown in against world class competition is no joke and they have all done themselves very proud.

There is a real cross-section of athletes participating here, and some who are very famous. I've said hello to Martina Navratilova, and taken a photo with Yao Ming.

But the highlight for me was seeing the US men's basketball team eating lunch. Tim Duncan, Lebron James, Carmello Anthony and Allen Iverson. It made my day!

In fact, eating has been the highlight of the day, because before our competitions we don't really do anything besides train and rest. Our chef-de-mission Marie Therese Zammit suggested that we all eat together as much as possible and it has been nice to feel that team unity.

We all really came together for the opening ceremony and it was truly fantastic. To walk in, in front of 80,000 passionate Greeks, was quite an experience.

More respect for Maltese athletes

However, it has to be said that the Maltese contingent is divided between those who came to work or compete, and those whose can contribute much more during the Games.

The level of respect and consideration that some of these individuals have shown for us elite athletes leaves a lot to be desired.

I guarantee that if they had to work half as hard as we have had to, just to get here, they would be taking the Olympics far more seriously. Our athletes deserve the best and we cannot expect results without the proper support team.

However, something good always comes out of adversity. And it has really brought many of us closer together. We have provided each other with support and encouragement as we have done our utmost to try and stay focused.

'Worst race of my life'

Well, I suppose that I should talk about my race, which was on Friday. I have no excuses, it all basically went horribly wrong at the bell and I ended up jogging in. I actually wanted to stop but you can't do that at the Olympics. It was probably the worst race of my entire life but I'll get over it and live to fight another day.

As an athlete, it is normal for me to feel 10 different emotions at any given moment and I have to say that I still feel satisfied in a way.

Just getting the qualifying standard and coming here on my own merit was a task in itself. And nobody can ever take that away from me. I've never used performance enhancing drugs and I've never brought shame upon myself or my family.

But now it's over for me and I finally get to switch off for a bit. Over the next few days, I'll spend some time with my mum, and then I'm off to the boxing.

Beijing is four years away and I know that I won't be competing there. However, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all the Maltese athletes to go for it.

Train until you can't train anymore, never take your eyes off the prize. And every time you feel like quitting try that little bit harder. Because as stated in Romans 5:3: "Tribulations produce perseverance". Perseverance produces character and with character comes hope.

Being here at the Olympics has been the most amazing experience of my life. And if you are out there and you have some talent, then you must try. You owe it to yourself. At times the road will be very hard, and you will indeed get discouraged, but always remember that if it was easy then everyone would be doing it!