Swiggtalk chats with Olympic Athlete Alexandra Orlando about what it takes to be a professional gymnast, body issues, and advice she would have given herself at a teen. Check out her video here.
All through this I was trying to push myself harder than I ever had before in the gym. The stress and pressure was immeasurable. I had to use my frustration and anger to my advantage and used those emotions in training to propel me forward.
I figured I had been thrown my fair share of obstacles already and if I was strong enough to get through them the next four years would be a breeze. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
My routine was this: I would be up at 6am, eat whatever was put in front of me, which was basically nothing and head to two hours of ballet. My legs have never shaken more than they used to after one of those sessions.
Ten years later, I was able to retire from my sport at 21 confidently because I knew that I had made that little girl’s dream come true despite all the odds.
I think back to those wonderfully naive years in my life and have to smile. If I would’ve known the incredibly challenging road ahead of me, would I have chosen differently?
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of participating as an athlete in the Olympic Games. I didn't know for what sport just then, but I knew in my heart that I was meant to be there one day. I was so fortunate to have a family that didn’t just smile sweetly at their little girl’s big plans, but believed in my dream and supported me every step of the way.
It is here. It traveled 9,804 kilometres across the globe, completely escorted by high level authorities. It is tiny, yet important. It is a symbol of hope and the best of humanity. It is the Olympic flame.
Canada will now celebrate and hold the Olympic torch as the flame passes through over 12,000 Canadian hands and through every province and territory in Canada on its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This will be the longest torch run within a single country in the history of the Olympic Games.
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