Favourite Olympic moments: Swimming sensation inspired new dream

With the 2012 London Olympics just around the corner, we thought we would look back at some of our favourite Olympic moments. Today, Olympic cyclist Alison Shanks looks at Danyon Loader's gold-medal swims at the 1996 Games.

My favourite Olympic moment 

My first real memory of the Olympics was watching at home with Mum and Dad. There were "wahoos" and cheers echoing through the lounge as Danyon Loader touched the wall and turned to look up at the scoreboard.

I remember Dad telling me that Danyon came to his video store in South Dunedin to hire videos, and I could sense an affiliation and the associated Otago pride that resulted from Danyon's Olympic success.

This humble Olympic champion I was seeing on TV trained every morning and every afternoon at Moana Pool, the pool where I swam with my friends. He also rented videos, from my Dad's shop, like a normal person, yet he was standing on top of the Olympic dais for the world to see.

For me, Danyon made the Olympics seem real and not just something that happened on TV.

Watching Danyon celebrate the biggest win of his life subconsciously sparked something inside of me - I too, wanted to be the best.

I tried many avenues as I embarked on this quest.

Through my Queen's High School days, I competed in athletics, basketball and netball. Finally, after Otago University life, I found cycling, which has provided me with my opportunity to be the best.

Opportunities have to be grabbed with both hands and, with London fast approaching, the emotions of that first Olympic memory have made their way back to the forefront of my mind.

Danyon's actions in the pool ignited a spark inside me as a teenager and today they continue to inspire me as I put in the hard training on the road to London, chasing that elusive gold medal.

- Alison Shanks

 

 

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