Well it is now less than 20 days out from the Olympics and it would be an interesting time for the athletes.

For most, it is an exciting time where they are putting the final touches to their preparation and getting emotionally ready for what is the biggest competition in the world.

Unfortunately for some it is a time of disappointment, when they realise they aren’t going to make it to the Olympics.

But no matter what, it is definitely a time of extreme feelings.

Two examples of how important preparation is just over two weeks out, and the different types of emotions being experienced are of pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, and Jana Pittman.

Isinbayeva recently broke the world record and is coming into the Olympics letting everyone know she is the world leader in the women’s pole vault - and still unreachable for all of the girls. Now that is a successful preparation!

And then there is Jana.

I am sure there is a lot of disappointment and maybe some regrets but the fact that she isn’t able to make the biggest competition of her career shows how extremely different preparations can be.

Just a few weeks before the Sydney Olympics, I injured my ankle while competing in Europe and was told it was unlikely that I would make it through the pole vault. So through that period of time I experienced some incredible highs, but also some incredible lows, so I know only too well what many of these athletes are going through.

At this time most of the teams will still be at their training base. Some would have arrived in China but would not be in Beijing. Because of the conditions there and the pollution in the city, I doubt any teams would be there this many weeks out from the competition.

Especially the Australian athletes, as they only have to travel about 8 hours so the time difference isn’t massive either. It is going to be hot and humid and very polluted, so I think most of the team would be home and trying to stay in their own environment and get their last breathes of fresh air!!

Look forward to sharing more my thoughts with you.

Tatiana