I’m 24 years old and it’s 11 23 in the morning and I’m sitting on the start
morning and I’m sitting on the start
morning and I’m sitting on the start line and my first World Championships
line and my first World Championships
line and my first World Championships I’ve been planning this day and
I’ve been planning this day and
I’ve been planning this day and preparing for it for years and Here I am
preparing for it for years and Here I am
preparing for it for years and Here I am oh I’m cackling my pants I’m literally
oh I’m cackling my pants I’m literally
oh I’m cackling my pants I’m literally sitting there I mean my boat and I’ve
sitting there I mean my boat and I’ve
sitting there I mean my boat and I’ve got the white water around me it’s going
got the white water around me it’s going
got the white water around me it’s going shhh and there’s my competitor in front
shhh and there’s my competitor in front
shhh and there’s my competitor in front of me and there’s his clock just to the
of me and there’s his clock just to the
of me and there’s his clock just to the side I’m in this gorgeous place in the
side I’m in this gorgeous place in the
side I’m in this gorgeous place in the mountains so I’ve got the mountains over
mountains so I’ve got the mountains over
mountains so I’ve got the mountains over to my left and this valley over to my
to my left and this valley over to my
to my left and this valley over to my right I’m all i hear is this put this
right I’m all i hear is this put this
right I’m all i hear is this put this noise beeb beeb beeb beeb beeb and
noise beeb beeb beeb beeb beeb and
noise beeb beeb beeb beeb beeb and suddenly the person in front of me has
suddenly the person in front of me has
suddenly the person in front of me has gone and they look like a Duracell bunny
gone and they look like a Duracell bunny
gone and they look like a Duracell bunny as they fly off into the distance and I
as they fly off into the distance and I
as they fly off into the distance and I start thinking what on earth do I do now
start thinking what on earth do I do now
start thinking what on earth do I do now I’m looking over to the left I’m looking
I’m looking over to the left I’m looking
I’m looking over to the left I’m looking over to the right thinking what do I do
over to the right thinking what do I do
over to the right thinking what do I do I’m holding my paddle like this and it’s
I’m holding my paddle like this and it’s
I’m holding my paddle like this and it’s tapping onto the boat because I’m so
tapping onto the boat because I’m so
tapping onto the boat because I’m so scared and I can hear my heart going
scared and I can hear my heart going
scared and I can hear my heart going thud thud thud thud and so I’ve now got
thud thud thud thud and so I’ve now got
thud thud thud thud and so I’ve now got in my head is going Shh tap tap tap tap
in my head is going Shh tap tap tap tap
in my head is going Shh tap tap tap tap tap tap I look over and I see my coach
tap tap I look over and I see my coach
tap tap I look over and I see my coach and I look for him some for inspiration
and I look for him some for inspiration
and I look for him some for inspiration and he looks white as a sheet and all I
and he looks white as a sheet and all I
and he looks white as a sheet and all I can sort of sit there and think to
can sort of sit there and think to
can sort of sit there and think to myself is go crap crap crap crap crap
myself is go crap crap crap crap crap
myself is go crap crap crap crap crap crap crap at that point if someone had
crap crap at that point if someone had
crap crap at that point if someone had asked me my name I would have gone name
asked me my name I would have gone name
asked me my name I would have gone name name what do I do and then all of a
name what do I do and then all of a
name what do I do and then all of a sudden 30 seconds has gone is like what
sudden 30 seconds has gone is like what
sudden 30 seconds has gone is like what do I do now and then suddenly I’m stop
do I do now and then suddenly I’m stop
do I do now and then suddenly I’m stop watching this clock and it’s like on
watching this clock and it’s like on
watching this clock and it’s like on countdown you can just see this red
countdown you can just see this red
countdown you can just see this red secondhand just fooling around and I’m
secondhand just fooling around and I’m
secondhand just fooling around and I’m staring at it and then staring over to
staring at it and then staring over to
staring at it and then staring over to my left and going what do I do and at 15
my left and going what do I do and at 15
my left and going what do I do and at 15 seconds just to raise the atmosphere
seconds just to raise the atmosphere
seconds just to raise the atmosphere just that little bit more it goes big
just that little bit more it goes big
just that little bit more it goes big and I go
and I go
and I go at 10 seconds you get another beep and
at 10 seconds you get another beep and
at 10 seconds you get another beep and it was at that point my shoulder just
it was at that point my shoulder just
it was at that point my shoulder just went oh and I smiled and I remembered
went oh and I smiled and I remembered
went oh and I smiled and I remembered what my friend had said to me before I
what my friend had said to me before I
what my friend had said to me before I left the UK and she said Jilly on that
left the UK and she said Jilly on that
left the UK and she said Jilly on that start line I know you’re going to be
start line I know you’re going to be
start line I know you’re going to be really nervous but remember you’ve done
really nervous but remember you’ve done
really nervous but remember you’ve done all of your preparation you know you’re
all of your preparation you know you’re
all of your preparation you know you’re ready physically you’re ready mentally
ready physically you’re ready mentally
ready physically you’re ready mentally you know this river like the back of
you know this river like the back of
you know this river like the back of your hand you know every single stroke
your hand you know every single stroke
your hand you know every single stroke just take a second and smile and on that
just take a second and smile and on that
just take a second and smile and on that 10 seconds that’s exactly what I did and
10 seconds that’s exactly what I did and
10 seconds that’s exactly what I did and it’s like time slowed down and on the
it’s like time slowed down and on the
it’s like time slowed down and on the five seconds I got these five beeps and
five seconds I got these five beeps and
five seconds I got these five beeps and it was like I’m sitting there my hand is
it was like I’m sitting there my hand is
it was like I’m sitting there my hand is on my paddle my feet on the footrest and
on my paddle my feet on the footrest and
on my paddle my feet on the footrest and every single beat done going beep beep
every single beat done going beep beep
every single beat done going beep beep beep babe and off I go like a rocket and
beep babe and off I go like a rocket and
beep babe and off I go like a rocket and it was one of my best races ever and I
it was one of my best races ever and I
it was one of my best races ever and I came 15th but how do I get how did I get
came 15th but how do I get how did I get
came 15th but how do I get how did I get to that point I’m 20 years old and it’s
to that point I’m 20 years old and it’s
to that point I’m 20 years old and it’s 750 nine in the evening I’ve got these
750 nine in the evening I’ve got these
750 nine in the evening I’ve got these gorgeous mountains over to my left and
gorgeous mountains over to my left and
gorgeous mountains over to my left and this valley over to my right we’d been
this valley over to my right we’d been
this valley over to my right we’d been out walking for the day and the plan was
out walking for the day and the plan was
out walking for the day and the plan was to go and see the sunset but it hadn’t
to go and see the sunset but it hadn’t
to go and see the sunset but it hadn’t quite worked out we’ve got ourselves
quite worked out we’ve got ourselves
quite worked out we’ve got ourselves into trouble we’ve lost our way and if
into trouble we’ve lost our way and if
into trouble we’ve lost our way and if we’d had taken every single choice in a
we’d had taken every single choice in a
we’d had taken every single choice in a different format I wouldn’t have found
different format I wouldn’t have found
different format I wouldn’t have found myself in the situation I now was are
myself in the situation I now was are
myself in the situation I now was are now lying on the side of the mountain my
now lying on the side of the mountain my
now lying on the side of the mountain my heart’s going thud-thud-thud-thud-thud
heart’s going thud-thud-thud-thud-thud
heart’s going thud-thud-thud-thud-thud my eyes are wide open but I can’t see a
my eyes are wide open but I can’t see a
my eyes are wide open but I can’t see a thing I’ve just fallen 200 feet 60 feet
thing I’ve just fallen 200 feet 60 feet
thing I’ve just fallen 200 feet 60 feet straight down on 140 of tumbling a
straight down on 140 of tumbling a
straight down on 140 of tumbling a bouncing I bounced seven times I know
bouncing I bounced seven times I know
bouncing I bounced seven times I know that because I remember every single
that because I remember every single
that because I remember every single bounce on the 4th bounced it was like I
bounce on the 4th bounced it was like I
bounce on the 4th bounced it was like I was on a roller coaster and I flew up in
was on a roller coaster and I flew up in
was on a roller coaster and I flew up in the air and the only thing that went
the air and the only thing that went
the air and the only thing that went through my brain was
through my brain was
through my brain was and I hit the ground and as I went up
and I hit the ground and as I went up
and I hit the ground and as I went up into the air for the fifth time I was
into the air for the fifth time I was
into the air for the fifth time I was like this is not normal I need to stop
like this is not normal I need to stop
like this is not normal I need to stop this and I remember flicking out my arms
this and I remember flicking out my arms
this and I remember flicking out my arms to try and slow myself down and as I hit
to try and slow myself down and as I hit
to try and slow myself down and as I hit for that sixth time after all I wasn’t
for that sixth time after all I wasn’t
for that sixth time after all I wasn’t quick that time I went up and I so I
quick that time I went up and I so I
quick that time I went up and I so I chucked my arms out and ichat my legs
chucked my arms out and ichat my legs
chucked my arms out and ichat my legs out and I hate for the seventh time and
out and I hate for the seventh time and
out and I hate for the seventh time and then I finally had stopped it’s in the
then I finally had stopped it’s in the
then I finally had stopped it’s in the evening I got to watch the sunset but I
evening I got to watch the sunset but I
evening I got to watch the sunset but I was in a lot of pain and my friend
was in a lot of pain and my friend
was in a lot of pain and my friend finally managed to sort find where i was
finally managed to sort find where i was
finally managed to sort find where i was i remember his face I will never ever
i remember his face I will never ever
i remember his face I will never ever forget his face he looked gray he’d look
forget his face he looked gray he’d look
forget his face he looked gray he’d look so scared and I remember trying to
so scared and I remember trying to
so scared and I remember trying to convince him that it was I was going to
convince him that it was I was going to
convince him that it was I was going to be okay he needed to go down the
be okay he needed to go down the
be okay he needed to go down the mountain and get help and to leave me
mountain and get help and to leave me
mountain and get help and to leave me there I spent the longest night of my
there I spent the longest night of my
there I spent the longest night of my life I was cold it started to rain I was
life I was cold it started to rain I was
life I was cold it started to rain I was in America I was in a place called
in America I was in a place called
in America I was in a place called Albuquerque in New Mexico a place where
Albuquerque in New Mexico a place where
Albuquerque in New Mexico a place where it rains maybe four or five days every
it rains maybe four or five days every
it rains maybe four or five days every year that night it rained luck was not
year that night it rained luck was not
year that night it rained luck was not necessarily on my side and as I lie
necessarily on my side and as I lie
necessarily on my side and as I lie there I was like what do I do I had to
there I was like what do I do I had to
there I was like what do I do I had to try and think how do I keep myself going
try and think how do I keep myself going
try and think how do I keep myself going I went in and out of consciousness all
I went in and out of consciousness all
I went in and out of consciousness all night trying to control the pain by
night trying to control the pain by
night trying to control the pain by through breathing and eventually I got
through breathing and eventually I got
through breathing and eventually I got picked up i had a copter in the morning
picked up i had a copter in the morning
picked up i had a copter in the morning but I’d hit him one thing I didn’t tell
but I’d hit him one thing I didn’t tell
but I’d hit him one thing I didn’t tell my friend what I felt as if for
my friend what I felt as if for
my friend what I felt as if for something was wrong and before he left
something was wrong and before he left
something was wrong and before he left I’d kind of checked my body out and I
I’d kind of checked my body out and I
I’d kind of checked my body out and I knew I felt like I had broken something
knew I felt like I had broken something
knew I felt like I had broken something in this one in this region here because
in this one in this region here because
in this one in this region here because it felt like a bone was kind of sticking
it felt like a bone was kind of sticking
it felt like a bone was kind of sticking out but I hadn’t told him that I knew
out but I hadn’t told him that I knew
out but I hadn’t told him that I knew there was something wrong with my neck
there was something wrong with my neck
there was something wrong with my neck and I kept hiding this and I got all
and I kept hiding this and I got all
and I kept hiding this and I got all that all the way to the point of being
that all the way to the point of being
that all the way to the point of being in hospital and I said look there’s
in hospital and I said look there’s
in hospital and I said look there’s something wrong with my neck because I’m
something wrong with my neck because I’m
something wrong with my neck because I’m in America it sound like an episode of
in America it sound like an episode of
in America it sound like an episode of kind of ER and I remember being there
kind of ER and I remember being there
kind of ER and I remember being there going oh my god this is happening to me
going oh my god this is happening to me
going oh my god this is happening to me I found out I’d broken my pelvis in four
I found out I’d broken my pelvis in four
I found out I’d broken my pelvis in four places
places
places I’d fractured my skull and had an open
I’d fractured my skull and had an open
I’d fractured my skull and had an open wound to my head here I had an open
wound to my head here I had an open
wound to my head here I had an open wound to the bone on my left shin and I
wound to the bone on my left shin and I
wound to the bone on my left shin and I had broken my neck I hadn’t just broken
had broken my neck I hadn’t just broken
had broken my neck I hadn’t just broken my neck I had fractured c4 and I
my neck I had fractured c4 and I
my neck I had fractured c4 and I desiccated c5 and c6 I’d actually
desiccated c5 and c6 I’d actually
desiccated c5 and c6 I’d actually obtained the same injury as a famous
obtained the same injury as a famous
obtained the same injury as a famous actor Christopher Reeve who played the
actor Christopher Reeve who played the
actor Christopher Reeve who played the original Superman the difference being
original Superman the difference being
original Superman the difference being his spinal cord severed my narrowed to a
his spinal cord severed my narrowed to a
his spinal cord severed my narrowed to a fraction there i was now laying in
fraction there i was now laying in
fraction there i was now laying in hospital I was 20 years old I had my
hospital I was 20 years old I had my
hospital I was 20 years old I had my whole life ahead of me I was so excited
whole life ahead of me I was so excited
whole life ahead of me I was so excited I I was you know very athletic very
I I was you know very athletic very
I I was you know very athletic very driven very independent and now here was
driven very independent and now here was
driven very independent and now here was I can’t move staring up at a really
I can’t move staring up at a really
I can’t move staring up at a really boring ceiling I’d had this major
boring ceiling I’d had this major
boring ceiling I’d had this major operation and I was told just be happy
operation and I was told just be happy
operation and I was told just be happy to walk again I didn’t want that I
to walk again I didn’t want that I
to walk again I didn’t want that I wanted my life back I was between my
wanted my life back I was between my
wanted my life back I was between my second year and final year of University
second year and final year of University
second year and final year of University I didn’t want to walk I wanted to run I
I didn’t want to walk I wanted to run I
I didn’t want to walk I wanted to run I wanted to do all the all my fun things I
wanted to do all the all my fun things I
wanted to do all the all my fun things I wanted to be back in a boat again I
wanted to be back in a boat again I
wanted to be back in a boat again I didn’t think it was possible and I
didn’t think it was possible and I
didn’t think it was possible and I remember this one afternoon this person
remember this one afternoon this person
remember this one afternoon this person came into my hospital room I remember
came into my hospital room I remember
came into my hospital room I remember her voice I never I don’t know what she
her voice I never I don’t know what she
her voice I never I don’t know what she looked like and she came in say do you
looked like and she came in say do you
looked like and she came in say do you know what and I’m in a really ratty mood
know what and I’m in a really ratty mood
know what and I’m in a really ratty mood at this point and i can imagine a sort
at this point and i can imagine a sort
at this point and i can imagine a sort of coming in and putting her hands on
of coming in and putting her hands on
of coming in and putting her hands on her hips like this oh gee know what and
her hips like this oh gee know what and
her hips like this oh gee know what and I reply with what you have to want to
I reply with what you have to want to
I reply with what you have to want to get better and at that point in the mood
get better and at that point in the mood
get better and at that point in the mood I was in I did what most teenagers do I
I was in I did what most teenagers do I
I was in I did what most teenagers do I shouted back at her you have no idea
shouted back at her you have no idea
shouted back at her you have no idea what I’ve been going through what’s
what I’ve been going through what’s
what I’ve been going through what’s happened to me leave me alone and she
happened to me leave me alone and she
happened to me leave me alone and she did the best thing possible she said
did the best thing possible she said
did the best thing possible she said nothing and all I heard was these
nothing and all I heard was these
nothing and all I heard was these footsteps and a slam of the door and
footsteps and a slam of the door and
footsteps and a slam of the door and more footsteps and I was left there to
more footsteps and I was left there to
more footsteps and I was left there to stew what is it that wanted I couldn’t
stew what is it that wanted I couldn’t
stew what is it that wanted I couldn’t answer that question I knew what I
answer that question I knew what I
answer that question I knew what I didn’t want I didn’t want to just walk I
didn’t want I didn’t want to just walk I
didn’t want I didn’t want to just walk I wanted to run because to run you have to
wanted to run because to run you have to
wanted to run because to run you have to walk to walk you have to be able to
walk to walk you have to be able to
walk to walk you have to be able to stand
stand
stand stand you have to be able to sit up and
stand you have to be able to sit up and
stand you have to be able to sit up and to sit up you have to be able to get out
to sit up you have to be able to get out
to sit up you have to be able to get out of bed suddenly walking was just a mere
of bed suddenly walking was just a mere
of bed suddenly walking was just a mere stepping stone they told me I’d be in
stepping stone they told me I’d be in
stepping stone they told me I’d be in hospital for about 12 months I couldn’t
hospital for about 12 months I couldn’t
hospital for about 12 months I couldn’t think of anything worse it was like all
think of anything worse it was like all
think of anything worse it was like all these sort of barriers were put in place
these sort of barriers were put in place
these sort of barriers were put in place but I now had a goal I wanted to run and
but I now had a goal I wanted to run and
but I now had a goal I wanted to run and I like to prove people wrong and I’m
I like to prove people wrong and I’m
I like to prove people wrong and I’m stubborn really stubborn i’m also very
stubborn really stubborn i’m also very
stubborn really stubborn i’m also very competitive with myself 12 months i had
competitive with myself 12 months i had
competitive with myself 12 months i had to be back at university within five
to be back at university within five
to be back at university within five weeks 12 months was not an option so i
weeks 12 months was not an option so i
weeks 12 months was not an option so i took my first step and as I did that the
took my first step and as I did that the
took my first step and as I did that the doctor said huh you can actually well
doctor said huh you can actually well
doctor said huh you can actually well maybe you only be in hospital for six
maybe you only be in hospital for six
maybe you only be in hospital for six months I was like yes I’ve taken off six
months I was like yes I’ve taken off six
months I was like yes I’ve taken off six months and before I knew it I was out of
months and before I knew it I was out of
months and before I knew it I was out of hospital within two and a half weeks I
hospital within two and a half weeks I
hospital within two and a half weeks I was back at my university registering
was back at my university registering
was back at my university registering five weeks later I knew what I wanted it
five weeks later I knew what I wanted it
five weeks later I knew what I wanted it did take me two years to learn how to
did take me two years to learn how to
did take me two years to learn how to run and after that I thought well what’s
run and after that I thought well what’s
run and after that I thought well what’s next it was quite obvious to me I wanted
next it was quite obvious to me I wanted
next it was quite obvious to me I wanted to represent my country it was a
to represent my country it was a
to represent my country it was a childhood dream I’d had and I’ve tried
childhood dream I’d had and I’ve tried
childhood dream I’d had and I’ve tried all sorts of things to try and do this
all sorts of things to try and do this
all sorts of things to try and do this in the past but I wanted to represent my
in the past but I wanted to represent my
in the past but I wanted to represent my country and where my gb colors three
country and where my gb colors three
country and where my gb colors three years after falling I was 23 years old i
years after falling I was 23 years old i
years after falling I was 23 years old i sat on my first start line and as I SAT
sat on my first start line and as I SAT
sat on my first start line and as I SAT there I was so nervous that it overcame
there I was so nervous that it overcame
there I was so nervous that it overcame me and I never completed my first race I
me and I never completed my first race I
me and I never completed my first race I fell in I swam across the finish line
fell in I swam across the finish line
fell in I swam across the finish line and I had dnf did not finish I was
and I had dnf did not finish I was
and I had dnf did not finish I was absolutely overwhelmed so that following
absolutely overwhelmed so that following
absolutely overwhelmed so that following year when I was 24 when I sat on that
year when I was 24 when I sat on that
year when I was 24 when I sat on that start line I had to find a way I had to
start line I had to find a way I had to
start line I had to find a way I had to find a strategy to do with my nerves
find a strategy to do with my nerves
find a strategy to do with my nerves that’s why i was so pleased
that’s why i was so pleased
that’s why i was so pleased but one side actually did that I thought
but one side actually did that I thought
but one side actually did that I thought what do I want next I was 15th in the
what do I want next I was 15th in the
what do I want next I was 15th in the world I wanted to be the best that I
world I wanted to be the best that I
world I wanted to be the best that I could be I wanted to be the best in the
could be I wanted to be the best in the
could be I wanted to be the best in the world my dreams and goals changed every
world my dreams and goals changed every
world my dreams and goals changed every single time and I got to that point
single time and I got to that point
single time and I got to that point where I thought why not it took me nine
where I thought why not it took me nine
where I thought why not it took me nine years from when I fell off a mountain to
years from when I fell off a mountain to
years from when I fell off a mountain to actually stand on the podium and I got a
actually stand on the podium and I got a
actually stand on the podium and I got a bronze medal at the World Championships
bronze medal at the World Championships
bronze medal at the World Championships I held this meadow and thought wow and I
I held this meadow and thought wow and I
I held this meadow and thought wow and I had a tear just run down my face and the
had a tear just run down my face and the
had a tear just run down my face and the reason for that was all the people that
reason for that was all the people that
reason for that was all the people that helped me get there I’ve when on this
helped me get there I’ve when on this
helped me get there I’ve when on this massive roller coaster I’d been injured
massive roller coaster I’d been injured
massive roller coaster I’d been injured when you fall off a mountain and break
when you fall off a mountain and break
when you fall off a mountain and break your neck it doesn’t leave you necessary
your neck it doesn’t leave you necessary
your neck it doesn’t leave you necessary in the best way and you have to overcome
in the best way and you have to overcome
in the best way and you have to overcome things that people just don’t even
things that people just don’t even
things that people just don’t even realize you have to find different ways
realize you have to find different ways
realize you have to find different ways of doing things and that’s exactly what
of doing things and that’s exactly what
of doing things and that’s exactly what I did but once you become the best in
I did but once you become the best in
I did but once you become the best in the world and a European multiple
the world and a European multiple
the world and a European multiple European champion what do you do what
European champion what do you do what
European champion what do you do what becomes next in December 2015 a little
becomes next in December 2015 a little
becomes next in December 2015 a little carrot was dangled at me Jilly what are
carrot was dangled at me Jilly what are
carrot was dangled at me Jilly what are you doing next summer and I said I’m
you doing next summer and I said I’m
you doing next summer and I said I’m going to do this altered endurance race
going to do this altered endurance race
going to do this altered endurance race and try and break the record oh why do
and try and break the record oh why do
and try and break the record oh why do you fancy joining a team to cross the
you fancy joining a team to cross the
you fancy joining a team to cross the Atlantic and be a part of a
Atlantic and be a part of a
Atlantic and be a part of a record-breaking all-women’s crew and try
record-breaking all-women’s crew and try
record-breaking all-women’s crew and try and break the speed record I was like
and break the speed record I was like
and break the speed record I was like that sounds like fun so in january i
that sounds like fun so in january i
that sounds like fun so in january i went to the selection I’ve never rode
went to the selection I’ve never rode
went to the selection I’ve never rode before I’m a canoeist I face forwards
before I’m a canoeist I face forwards
before I’m a canoeist I face forwards but I went to the selection and somehow
but I went to the selection and somehow
but I went to the selection and somehow got selected and I remember going into
got selected and I remember going into
got selected and I remember going into work on that Monday morning going oh my
work on that Monday morning going oh my
work on that Monday morning going oh my god and then went oh my god I get really
god and then went oh my god I get really
god and then went oh my god I get really seasick
I’m ty actually hate the sea I hate the
I’m ty actually hate the sea I hate the taste of it and I’m really scared I have
taste of it and I’m really scared I have
taste of it and I’m really scared I have a fear of jellyfish what am I thinking
a fear of jellyfish what am I thinking
a fear of jellyfish what am I thinking but no no it’s gonna be fine i said to
but no no it’s gonna be fine i said to
but no no it’s gonna be fine i said to myself because I want to change myself
myself because I want to change myself
myself because I want to change myself both physically and mentally in the best
both physically and mentally in the best
both physically and mentally in the best way I can I want to do something that
way I can I want to do something that
way I can I want to do something that not many people get the chance to do so
not many people get the chance to do so
not many people get the chance to do so why not and on the seventh of june
why not and on the seventh of june
why not and on the seventh of june twenty sixteen i left the statue of
twenty sixteen i left the statue of
twenty sixteen i left the statue of liberty at midnight at midday with four
liberty at midnight at midday with four
liberty at midnight at midday with four other women and set to row home and
other women and set to row home and
other women and set to row home and finishing and Falmouth and I remember it
finishing and Falmouth and I remember it
finishing and Falmouth and I remember it got two the 40th day and I thought I
got two the 40th day and I thought I
got two the 40th day and I thought I just can’t do this I had sores on my
just can’t do this I had sores on my
just can’t do this I had sores on my bottom and friction burns I couldn’t
bottom and friction burns I couldn’t
bottom and friction burns I couldn’t even sit down for more than five minutes
even sit down for more than five minutes
even sit down for more than five minutes I had blisters on my hands that were
I had blisters on my hands that were
I had blisters on my hands that were just so infected and I was miserable I
just so infected and I was miserable I
just so infected and I was miserable I was so tired we did two hours on two
was so tired we did two hours on two
was so tired we did two hours on two hours off the yours every single day 24
hours off the yours every single day 24
hours off the yours every single day 24 hours a day how do I you know had what
hours a day how do I you know had what
hours a day how do I you know had what do i do and i remembered one thing that
do i do and i remembered one thing that
do i do and i remembered one thing that I give set myself I couldn’t control
I give set myself I couldn’t control
I give set myself I couldn’t control other people I can’t control the weather
other people I can’t control the weather
other people I can’t control the weather the only thing I could control was me
the only thing I could control was me
the only thing I could control was me and the combination of all my years as
and the combination of all my years as
and the combination of all my years as being an athlete I remember I said
being an athlete I remember I said
being an athlete I remember I said before I stepped on a vote that every
before I stepped on a vote that every
before I stepped on a vote that every time I came into the oars I would smile
time I came into the oars I would smile
time I came into the oars I would smile and I would enjoy and appreciate and
and I would enjoy and appreciate and
and I would enjoy and appreciate and enjoy that journey of doing it and on
enjoy that journey of doing it and on
enjoy that journey of doing it and on that 40th day when it felt like I just
that 40th day when it felt like I just
that 40th day when it felt like I just couldn’t do it anymore I smiled and
couldn’t do it anymore I smiled and
couldn’t do it anymore I smiled and thought I can do this I’ve done the
thought I can do this I’ve done the
thought I can do this I’ve done the preparation I’m mentally prepared we’re
preparation I’m mentally prepared we’re
preparation I’m mentally prepared we’re almost home we’ve got about a thousand
almost home we’ve got about a thousand
almost home we’ve got about a thousand nautical miles to do and we’re there on
nautical miles to do and we’re there on
nautical miles to do and we’re there on the 49th day we came in to Falmouth and
the 49th day we came in to Falmouth and
the 49th day we came in to Falmouth and it was one of the most proudest moments
it was one of the most proudest moments
it was one of the most proudest moments of my life we managed to break five
of my life we managed to break five
of my life we managed to break five World Records and actually make for
World Records and actually make for
World Records and actually make for world firsts and it was amazing feeling
world firsts and it was amazing feeling
world firsts and it was amazing feeling but I ask you one question he success
but I ask you one question he success
but I ask you one question he success through choice or chance for me it’s
through choice or chance for me it’s
through choice or chance for me it’s through choice and I ask myself
through choice and I ask myself
through choice and I ask myself constantly why not what
constantly why not what
constantly why not what to stop me from doing something and I
to stop me from doing something and I
to stop me from doing something and I ask all you guys what one thing have you
ask all you guys what one thing have you
ask all you guys what one thing have you chosen not to do and ask yourself the
chosen not to do and ask yourself the
chosen not to do and ask yourself the question why not what is stopping you
question why not what is stopping you
question why not what is stopping you success comes through choice and that’s
success comes through choice and that’s
success comes through choice and that’s what I live and breathe if I can do it
what I live and breathe if I can do it
what I live and breathe if I can do it so can you thank
so can you thank
so can you thank [Applause]
”
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