The Olympian next door

Have a good look at your neighbour.
Does he or she look like the sporty type, or maybe not so much?
Maybe your neighbour is your typical "soccer mom" running between work and kids.
Or maybe it is a businessman with greying hair and glasses, obviously spending many hours in an office environment.
Now this question: do you think there might be a chance your neighbour might be an Olympian?
Someone, who at some time represented their country at the Summer or Winter Olympic Games.
"Impossible - Olympians are all famous. I would have known immediately if my neighbour was an Olympian. I would have recognised him or her," might be your response.
Or would you?
These days I fall in to the working soccer mom category and my husband in the greying-business man one, yet a decade ago in 2008 we represented our country at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Believe me, there are thousands of us - completely "normal looking" people who go by their day-by-day activities just like you do, but who can also call themselves Olympians.
Just think about it.
You see thousands of athletes walking for hours into the arena during every Olympic Games opening ceremony.
Are they all famous?
Where are they now?
I know many Olympians who years after competing follow careers that has nothing to do with the sport in which they excelled.
I know Olympians who are nature conservationists, chartered accountants, factory bosses, media consultants and architects.
Me? I am a journalist, wife and a mother.
Although the majority of people I deal and interact with have no idea of my sporting background - as I believe it does not define who I am - I realise I often use the lessons I've learned and the experience I've gained in my long journey to the Olympics in my day-to-day life.
And that is what this blog is all going to be about.
Normal life lessons, tips, advice and experiences shared by your friendly Olympian Next Door.
Post questions, suggestions, comments and topics you would like to have an Olympian's view on and let's see where this blog and conversation goes.

Regards

The Olympian Next Door