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My name is Kim Valas and I’m competing at my first Australian Open
Championships. This is my Diary.
Day 1 – 10/3/2005
We landed in Sydney at 4:30pm, once
we arrived we colleted our luggage and jumped into our Avis commodore
rental. On the way to our apartment we stopped for a feed while Dion
was stuck with the car in the traffic. It took about 1 hour to get to
our apartment which was only like 10km away. Later in the evening, we
went to the Olympic park for a swim, while Dion and Braydon went
shopping. Back at the apartment we had dinner while Matt and Dion went
for a massage.
Day 2 – 11/3/2005
Started the day at about 8.30 with a
few bowls of Nutrigrain, Matt and Braydon fought over a tub of yogurt
which Matt didn’t want anyway. We then made our way to the pool for
a morning swim. We saw a few big named swimmers here, but we’re sure
Lenton and Neuwert will give them a run for their money. After the
swim, we went shopping at Bi-Lo, and on the way back I got suck
carrying up the shopping bags again, 2 days in a row! After we made
our lunch we had a pretty relaxing rest off day or whatever was left
of it. We watched dumb and dumber, played poker (with Braydon losing
almost lost all of his money, hahaha!). We finished the day off fairly
early around 9.30.
Day 3 – 12/3/2005
Today was the big day! 50 FLY, an
early morning again at 8.30, breakfast and off to the pool. Event 6,
heat 1, and lane 4. I was up and off in 26.05, too bad I got DQ for
moving on the blocks. Anyway I can’t be too disappointed. Meanwhile
Braydon missed out on a semifinal swim by 0.01, a good swim for him
and Matt backed up his heat swim of 25.14 to qualify 7th in
the final tomorrow night. The semifinals were packed full off fast
swimmers, luckily the disqualification of Welsh will give Mr Matthew
Lenton a chance to win a national butterfly title. After that we had
to wait till Braydon was finished in his City of Perth 4x100 relay
team at the end of the night. Back to the apartment, on the way
picking up a bag of ice for Matt’s sore heel. Spag Bog for dinner
and card games to finish off the evening.
Day 4 – 13/3/05
A bit of a sleep in today while
Steve was off with Dion competing in his 100m backstroke event, he
finished off in 36th place in a time of 1.00.47. Matt,
Braydon and I spent the morning watching TV and playing games until
Steve and Dion came back. After lunch we all, except Braydon went and
played the poker machines, bet some cash on a horse race and lost all
of it. Tonight was the final of the 50m butterfly, Matt competed from
lane 8 and was right up their but placing out 7th His
time was 24.75 which was not far off the front of the field. Back at
the apartment, Dinner, bit of games and off to bed.
Day 5 – 14/3/05
Today was another day off for
everybody, so a bit later start to the morning was allowable. After
breakfast we went to a library which was a short trip because we had
to meet Brett Hawke for lunch. Lunch with Brett Hawke was great, not
only did we have a good feed, we also arranged for him to come over
and train with us which will be great experience for us all but he
also gave us some of his tips. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Timezone
was the next destination after lunch for all the games that we can fit
in, in one hour. We were at the pool at the same time as the Finals
session, and saw fast swimmers close up like Thorpe and Hackett. We
were back at the apartment in time for Desperate Housewife’s so we
were happy about that. Dinner was eaten during the show and after we
were off to bed again.
Day 6 – 15/3/05
The big 100m freestyle was on today
so an early start was necessary. The boys were very quiet, they were
all focusing on there race instead of mucking around. It seemed to be
working for all the boys swam well. Steve snuck into the semifinal
with a time of 51.51 which was a great effort. During the afternoon
Braydon, Dion and I went to Parramata looking to go for a movie, but
it started too late. On the way back Dion did something he does often,
backing up into other cars, but I won’t say the reason why he
suddenly wanted to turn around in a small side street. Traffic was
really heavy and we got to Olympic park just in time for Steve to have
a warm up. Steve did well but could not improve on his morning swim.
We all Finished of the evening with a steak except for me.
Day 7 -16/3/05
Today was another day that no body
had a swim. But tomorrow is the main race, the 50m splash and dash. It
was noticeable that everyone is psyched up for it and are ready to get
it on. Well in the morning we had to do a quick clean up of the
apartment because the owner was coming in, checking up and cleaning
it. We went to Parramata again to watch the film “Hitch” at 11.30.
It was a great movie and I think all of us thought so as well. On the
way back we had to stop at a Holden dealership to buy a taillight that
Dion broke yesterday. A swim was the next activity on the agenda and
then Dinner. To finish off the evening we watched “Gladiator”.
Day 8 – 17/3/05
50 free today, and also 100fly for
Braydon. All the guys were pumped up for a great swim. Braydon is off
first and finishes in 24.01, then in a later heat Matt and Steve were
up. Unfortunately Steve dived in before the starters signal, with Matt
qualifing for the semi’s with a time of 23.50. 100 fly was the next
event for Braydon who qualified for the semifinal. Dion then headed
off to the airport to go back to Perth to the Trinity interschool
swimming championships. The middle of the day consisted of Bushy
coming over, him eating our food, watching “The O.C.” and playing
Xbox. Next up was the Semifinal for the 50 free and 100 fly. Matt did
very well qualifying 4th fastest for the final in a time of
22.92. Braydon did a great time in his 100 fly finishing 11th
fastest with a time of 55.38. Dinner and a few card games was the way
we finished of the evening.
Day 9 – 18/3/05
By the time we got up Dion was
already back from Perth. We all got ready for another trip to Olympic
park for Steve’s 50 back. He swam a time of 27.72 which was not his
best. The rest of the middle of the day we spent shopping at a
Levi’s factory outlet and Bunnings to buy a spanner so that Dion
could replace the taillight that he broke the other day. We did this
all while Matt was back at the apartment psyched up. By the time we
got back, it was time again to go back to Olympic park for Matt’s 50
free final. Matt placed 6th capping off an amazing meet.
Dinner and a Movie was the way to end our day.
Day 10 – 19/3/05
Today’s the last day and I had a
late start while, Steve, Braydon and Matt were at the pool for a WAIS
team photo and time trials. I watched “I Robot” till they came
back to pick me up at about 12.00. We then went to lunch at a shopping
centre and bought a Kebab. A bit of shopping after is what we did, and
what we did the rest of the day you will have to experience for your
self.
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