XMAS 2006

That time of Year AGain

Well the last few days I've been in bed with a silly tummy bug and on friday/saturday with bruised hip because someone mistook my shiny, casper like white leg for a bright red, cant miss the target- its so big, chest guard....hmm I think they just believe they're fighting a kick boxing class....everyday! .....Anyways just hours before christmas I'm starting to feel a whole lot better and I can actually walk again normally! I'm now back in Perth with my family and enjoying the festive season and the plus 30 degree weather. Can't wait to see what Santa brings:) Above is me sending kisses to someone very special.

Genius

I’ve been back in Melbourne for a little over a week now. I’m not so glad to have left the AIS because I did enjoy just waking up and WALKING to training sessions...- not having to cook, not having to clean dishes and basically I just loved being a full time athlete round the clock …but on the other hand I’m glad to be back in Melbourne and back to civilization.

At the moment I am preparing for the World Champ selections in February 07. ……That’s only 57 sleeps away!....and with Christmas just round the corner there is heaps on work (taekwondo) still to be done.

I saw a masseur at VIS today and let me tell you the one word to describe them, "genius"!!! With only 20 minutes treatment I feel like I have a new back! I can’t wait to see how my whole body shapes up after a month of work! I have the feeling my legs will be go-go-gadget again. I’ll have the flexibility/range of a 17 year old and the experience of a 24 yr old. Hmmm it’s a dangerous combination…so watch out everyone:) hehe

CANBERRA - AIS

8 Athletes, including myself have travelled to the AIS in Canberra for a 10 day training camp. Whilst we are here we have the opportunity to become accustomed to the layout, procedures, resident village and of course the food court. Living at the AIS is enabling us to utilise our time better and get the best out of our sport and ourselves - which I think is an ideal way to improve.

So far we have done the following:
1) Introduction + Various other tours
2) Medical screenings
3) Strength/conditioning screenings
4) Plunge pool recovery session
5) Doctors
5) taekwondo sessions (We actually have a taekwondo room!)

The best thing is we have a great training hall with new matts to work on. Its an awsome feeling training somewhere thats clean, bright and in the same condition as an actual competition.!!!!! You can see from the photo, half of our gym. Its the only pic I have taken in three days of living here.

The hardest thing here has been setting up internet services but thanks to Dounia (The IT Queen) we now have access in our rooms. Not many of us have had the chance to venture outside because the daily schedule is so busy there isnt time to fit anything else in. But I am sure in time we will!...We must!

Despite our new facilities,..... the Rocky in us will never die!!!!!!

Friendly Competition against Korea

Myself and Eun Kyung

The Aussies had a friendly competition on Saturday with the Korean Team at the State Netball Hockey Centre in Melbourne. We had one fight each and mine was against Eun Kyung Jun who won the 59-63kg division in the World Cup this year - it was sort of a show down between us because we were both winners in different divisions (but the same Olympic class). I think we were both not at the top of our games having trained so hard twice a day for the past week but we still fought it out to the best we could. I felt in control the whole match and won the game 4-1.

Besides the Melbourne Cup today its my mum's bday!!!!! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Korean Team Down Under

A few of us posing in the cold weather

Kristy and I enjoying the food

The Korean Team have come down under this week to "climatize", train with us and prepare for their Asian Games competition. Although they are in Australia I still feel as though we are training with them, not them training with us. It's awsome having them here and I love the intensity alot of them bring into training...if only it could always be like this!

Tuesday evening we were invited to their hotel for a barbecue....little did we think a barbecue by the pool really meant "Korean" BBQ: Sausages with Korean hot chilli/bean paste sauce...oh and my personal favourite - chopsticks! The weather was terrible and we froze all night outside. After dinner we made our way inside where some of the team entertained us with games like rock scissors paper. You have to watch the clip to notice its not the average childschool game:) ...it was too complex for me!

Schedule: Tomorrow we are having a friendly comp against them at the State Netball centre in Melb.

WAIS DINNER - Pole Vault : Athlete of the Year

At the WAIS dinner on the red carpet:)

Together with Amber Bradley from Rowing.

On the 27th of October the Annual WAIS award dinner was held in Perth. Basil Z was the presenter of the evening and most of WA's sporting enthusiasts were there. I was nominated as a finalist of the year having won the World Cup this year, the Belgium Open and the 2005 Nationals. I did not win on the night but I did have a really good, inspiring evening. Other nominees included:

PAUL BURGESS (POLE VAULT) = WINNER
Amber Bradley & Jo Lutz (Rowing)
Robin Bell (Slalom Canoeing)
Peter Dawson (Cycling)
Emma Knox & Gemma Beadsworth (Water Polo)

Just wanna say thanks to WAIS this year for their continued support and congrats to PAUL BURGESS!

End of Ramadan and Goodbye Australia

Safety first. Don't you just love our helmets! Riding the Swan River in Perth.

Day in Sydney. Bahri passing by the Opera House

Everyone has to hold a Koala before they leave Australia!

And last but not least. My family at dinner one evening (sadly minus my older sister)

Today is the end of ramadan and a time for celebration. To all "iyi bayramlar" Happy Feast! For me, instead of it being an enjoyable day I was actually sadened by Bahri heading back to Turkey for his training. We had a wonderful time in Australia visiting various places in Melbourne, Perth and finally a day in Sydney to conclude. Melbourne was good because Bahri was able to see my life day to day and Perth was enjoyable because he got to see my family, where I grew up and my taekwondo clubs (plus I think Perth is the best place). My sister is actually ill at the moment so it was stressful at times but I was at ease knowing I was there for her and that my love was there for me too. In Sydney we caught up with old friends, made some new ones..and visited Opera House all in the day. We stayed with Carly who warmly welcomed us to her home. Erica Parcio's 30th Birthday was on that evening so we were lucky to have the chance to celebrate it with her. So much has happened personally in such a short time its impossible to explain it all. I'm thankful to have spent the last weeks with my dearest but as I said extremely sad he has gone. There are two years to go until the Olympics and one till qualifiers so its all steam ahead with training and comps from here on in. I hope I can build upon my success at the World Cup, perform consistently and continue carving my name into the record books. Korea comes this Friday and we have a training camp in Canberra in a few weeks.