Turkey: Filiz and Ali's Wedding

15 weeks and 1 day

This is a pic of me practising bending my knee a month before my full bend was obtained.

I can bend my knee all the way! I couldnt believe it when it happened because it just went up to touch my bum without me thinking. After a few secs I realised what I had done!:) YIPEEEEEEEEEE another milestone conquered!:)

August 3rd

This was my 2nd day of kicking hand targets:) Woooooooooooo! Stand by for video footage! I feel like a white belt having to relearn the basics. Whilst it has come back quickly it is so strange to sometimes stop and think of how to execute something, or wonder how the hell my leg will do it. Thankfully everything is holding up and each day is getting better and better.

Operation Bend SUCCESSFUL!!!

Feeling great, walking great, inside is great!!!!

Support Team

This is a pic of me in my Turkey shirt Bahri made for me from World Champs - It has my name on the back! And he gave me A 2008 Olympic Mascot also!

Right now: Im back in Melbourne this week to see my surgeon Hayden and physio's Randall Cooper and Wendy Braybon. Things have been going really good (for my knee) and Im so happy to report this Friday I will be having my knee bent. ...Sounds a bit strange, but all in all its AWSOME!!! My Knee is nice and strong and am still on track to fighting later on this year and for the Olympics. I am now jogging and squatting 60 kilos!....hmm and my skin folds have actually been the lowest they have ever been! It is amazing how much better my body is becoming from all this training in the gym! I love it!!!!!!!!!!

Lastly, other than my knee, I am going crazy without Bahri! He is my love, my rock, my inspiration, my motivation and all that keeps me going. Canberra might be a great place for my rehab and I appreciate everything people are doing for me but I just miss my man and want to be with him for a few weeks!!!!! I am going nuts and really losing it! Last week I was brought to tears --all week --every day -all day! I havent seen him much this year because of my injury and its eating me up inside. I do not have family support in Canberra and no one realises how hard it is to not only have an injury, but feel so alone. Day to day things improve but it does get monotinous ...welcome my life!

....Anyways I take nothing away from my medical support team in Canberra they are great and have helped me so much. To Martin, Ebony, Em, Lyndall, Tony & Bethany thanks for all your help so far, I really appreciate the lengths you have gone to - for
1) Putting up with me
2) Putting up with me
3) Treating me
4) Pushing me to become a better athlete.

What I have learnt at the AIS

= Do not punch your knee.....it does not break the scar tissue!
= When you get off the chin up machine...there is a step. Miss it and you fall over!
= I could be a good basketball player....but I cant dribble the ball!
= Do not eat like the rowers...my output of energy does not compare to them!

Canberra the last month

Olympic Clothes Fitting

Myself, Amy, Ruth and Caroline just testing sizes

The taekwondo crew have come to Canberra this week for a Shadow Team training camp, Olympic processing and to of course enjoy the weather! Yesterday it was minus 5 degrees in the morning.......YUK!

More to come...to be continued...

Today I LOVE MY KNEE!...But who knows about tomorrow...

This is a pic of me and Ebony (one of my rehab physios). Shes a top person and a fantastic physio! When I have a pic of Martin (my Physio who I go to everyday) he'll be up here too, they are both legends!

Everything is going okay...today:).....I'll tell you about how I feel tomorrow when it gets here....

My knee is progressing really well and my range and movement has increased dramatically the last week. I can ride, I can box, I can grind, I can squat weight, I can drive.... heck I can even stand straight (which is my proudest accomplishment:))

My injury makes me stop and think about the things we take for granted in life everyday. For now, its walking! ...Who ever thinks about how you walk, the actions you take to be able to walk properly and the muscles required to do that!...I know I never did coz its something that comes naturally. But over the last month I have observed and envied all people walking!

A few weeks ago I couldn't even walk. Being able to lift my leg and put one foot in front of the other seemed impossible!!! I tried and tried and I fell over many times and screamed like a baby (seriously,..I have witnesses too!) but I eventually learnt how to lift, how to switch on muscles and I can say with confidence my walking is back! Now, when I walk past people at the AIS I always get good walking comments. It makes me feel great and more confident about my comeback!

I still have alot to do, and am working hard with the physio's and strength instructors everyday. It wont be too long before I'm back on the matt:)