I am so immensely proud to be representing my country at the Athens Olympic Games, that's more than enough for me.
I was just speechless. To go in there (Olympic Trials) thinking, just hoping, to qualify for one event at the Olympic Games then to qualify for three events. I couldn't explain it.
I went away for a week. I had time to do a bit of fishing and to play some golf, trying not to think about the decision I had to make. It did get to me a bit. I lay in bed at night thinking about whether I should or shouldn't do it. I think it was just good to get away from swimming.
It was hard thinking about what had happened, as much as I tried not to. I went back to the hotel and I couldn't stop thinking about it because I was the next ranked athlete behind Grant (Hackett) and just to think 'What if I get second? What's going to happen? And that type of thing'.
The decision I've made has come from my heart. That's me, to follow my heart.
The goal was to get second in that race and think about what would happen after.
There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.
This would have to be the toughest moment of my life, whether to swim an event at the Olympic Games or to look after one of your best mates.
We didn't talk about the decision at all, which was great, just to get together as friends. The only thing he said to me was 'It's your decision. Just do what you have to do and I will back you 100 per cent.
When assumptions were made that I was going to bail out there was a little part of my brain that thought 'I am going to do to prove them wrong'. In the end that wouldn't be coming from my heart and doing what was right.
Our whole economy is based on planned obsolescence.
You can share a link to this page with your friend!