29th of March 2008

Hi Everyone,
 
At 4am this morning I was wide awake and watching the live feed of the World Women's Sprint competition in Manchester.

Mark stayed awake to watch round one with me till the clock ticked over 2am.

As he had to work the next day he went to bed and I moved downstairs to continue watching.

In round one, Svetlana Grankovskya was eliminated by German rider Christian Muche.

Mark and I were so happy! One down one to go. Which yes does sound horrible.... sorry Svetlana.
 
I stayed awake waiting for Round two which Lulu Zheng competed against her fellow country woman Shaung Guo, and was defeated but had chance to come back in the rep-charge.

She was then up against Dutch rider Yvonne Higenaar and Germany's Christian Muche.
 
I was so nervous fidgeting and sweating.

The race got under way and it was a drag race all the way.

Yvonne had worked hard with Lulu on her outside and Muche behind her, but pulled out something special in the last bend and rode clear for
the win progressing to the quarter finals and eliminating Lulu to the 9-12 finals.

 
I'M GOING TO THE OLYMPICS! AAAHHHHH!!!!! Unofficially of course.

The UCI will make official announcement of all qualifiers once the competition has finished.
 
I saw the finish rugged up on the couch and I raised both my hands and the biggest smile came over my face which turned quickly into tears, which fell for a long time.

I think it was a release of all the pressure, anxiety and stress of the past few months and the sheer happiness I was feeling.

I was so incredibly happy. STILL AM!
 
After the race Marv my coach called me from the Manchester Velodrome.

I was so happy I had to talk through tears.

He said if there wasn't a camera in his face he would be crying as well.

The phone was passed around the team and I spoke to a few people before saying good bye.

They have all been eagerly awaiting the results like I was and were very happy I made it!
 
I rang my mum to tell her I was in, and cried some more.

I text all the family and close friends, and went to bed to try get some sleep.
 

I lay awake for a long time and slept in today.
 
After 2.5 months of uncertainty facing my future and the many ups and downs I have experienced, I finally have certainty in the direction I am heading.

Full steam ahead to Beijing!

Now comes the next phase, training very hard to be in the best physical condition by August.

 
I want to say a very BIG thank you to all of you, that have been behind and encouraged me to keep on going.

To those who have shared their own stories of accidents and recoveries that have inspired me, thank you.

To my sponsors for never doubting me, thank you.

To my family who have been amazing through this, thank you.

To Mark who has looked after me when I couldn't myself and put up with me these past few months knowing the stress of the situation I am in and how I have been feeling.

Watching and not being able to do anything must have been hard but he has been my rock!

He has got me through.

Pulled me up when I started to doubt, he never let me fall!

Thank you, thank you!

A very happy Anna