What 0.8 of a Second Taught Me About Life
Back in 2008, I had made my first national rowing team. Our goal? To secure one of the final two places in the Coxed 4 category for the Beijing Paralympics. Rowing was making its debut in the Paralympics, and Rowing Australia was determined to have representation in all three categories.
We were a bit of a misfit crew—brought together from all over the country, training mostly on our own with local clubs. We only came together a handful of times before the big event. Making that crew was a battle in itself. A year earlier, a staff member from Rowing Australia told me I’d never be strong or fit enough to make a national team. I was determined to prove them wrong—and I did.
Along the way, I started a blog to share our journey. Failure never really crossed my mind. We were selected to race at the last qualifying World Cup just outside Munich, and we were buzzing with anticipation—our eyes firmly on Beijing.
Our heat was rough, but it was just a row for lanes. We regrouped and went all in for the final. China were untouchable that day, but we gave everything we had, fighting Denmark to the line.It was a photo finish! In the end, they beat us by just 0.8 seconds. Our Paralympic dream was over.
Back at the dock, I’d pushed so hard I couldn’t even walk. They lifted me from the boat and I just asked to be left lying there for a moment. At 47, I wasn’t sure I had the heart to keep going. That night, I posted a blog apologising to everyone who’d followed our story.
The next morning, I received an email from my sister Cynthia. She wrote: “It’s not the destination that matters. It’s the journey you took us on and what a ride it was!”
She reminded me that we’re all heading to the same final destination eventually—one we don’t want to rush toward. What really matters is the road we travel, the people we meet, and the stories we create along the way.
That journey taught me resilience, connection, and the joy of trying. It’s stayed with me long after that race finished.
So let me ask you this…
Are you embracing your journey—no matter where it takes you?