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Heptathlete Sarah Cowley during the 800m - Source: Photosport -
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Walking out last Friday morning into a capacity-full Olympic stadium will be a moment I'll never forget.
I didn't imagine the entire stadium would be full for the first day and morning session of the athletics programme, but it was. As we rounded the last corner, through an intricate network of tunnels under the stadium, I could hear the roar of 80,000 people.
I was focused on my race, but it was difficult not to be aware of the stage I was about to enter.
While most of you just see the athletes walk out on to the track five minutes before the race to put their blocks down, I start my warm-up two hours before the event. For a track event, you must report to the first-call room 50 minutes before the start time. At this time, I like to have my full warm-up complete and need at least an hour to do this. I felt good in my hurdles warm up and was very pumped for this day to be finally here.
I put my blocks down in my lane and did one practice.
As I was walking back towards my blocks, I heard my brother's voice. Among the thousands of noises in the stadium, it was so nice to hear his voice and know that my family were seated quite close to the start-line.
I'd been waiting for the gun for the last few days. Finally, it was here and I was pretty excited to finally be under way.
Nothing about the Olympics is the same as other competitions except the seconds from the gun to the finish-line. Being my first Olympics, I prepared for the first event in the best way I could with my sports psych and other team members.
Reflecting back, I really don't know how anyone could've truly been aware of the environment we were competing in. The noise, at times, was ferocious.
With the face of the Games - Jess Ennis - and two other British heptathletes in my field, the stadium was wild. Every time one of the GB girls ran, jumped or threw, or was simply on the big screen, screams went up.
In our final event - the 800m - the crowd rose to their feet when the gun went off and stood for the entire race. I now realise I was a part of a special event within the Olympics' history.
Pretty cool for a kiwi chick from Rotorua!
The heptathlon is a brutal event, but for me, it offers the ultimate athletic challenge. It was the greatest privilege to be in the stadium competing for my country.
In the days since, I've been asked many times "how did it feel?" It was phenomenally surreal and the greatest time of my life.
Now I turn from a heptathlete into supporter. I've been a bubble for the last 10 months, and it's time to get out and enjoy my Olympic Games experience.
Thank you to everyone for their amazing support - it has been wonderfully overwhelming and I've been blown away by the many messages I've received.
You were all with me through every event.
Citius, altius, fortius
Sarah x