My international sporting career began at the age of 12. Just two years later I achieved my first career highlight at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, just 12 months after losing my father in a plane crash, by winning gold and two silver medals.
My first of four World Championships in 1999 was history making for Australia, with the team coming fourth and my individual all-around of eighth in the world, catapulting me to world-class gymnast status, and an invitation to the prestigious World Cup circuit. My results also included a first gold medal for Australia, a silver and bronze in the bi-annual finals. I also attained a world ranking of number one on the bars in the 1999/2000 circuit and maintained an all-around world ranking of fifth or sixth over a six year period.
Winning two gold, two silver and one bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games made me the most decorated WA Commonwealth Games athlete in history. The 2001 World Championships saw my history making fourth place on floor by an agonising 0.038 from bronze and only 0.213 from gold.
My biggest highlight was at 2003 World Championships when I was the captain of the first and only Australian gymnastics team to win a team medal – a bronze.
As a dual Olympian I feel very honoured that I had the opportunity to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and in Athens in 2004. In Sydney, the team placed sixth and I ranked sixteenth all-around and eighth on floor. In my final Olympics and competition, the team made the finals and I came tenth all-around and eighth on the beam, being the first and only Australian to make consecutive all-around and apparatus finals. My career ended with 67 international medals and many state and national awards and inclusion in the WA Hall of Champions.
I am currently the Vice President of the WA Olympic Council, an Australia Day ambassador, an internationally accredited gymnastics judge and a passionate physiotherapist.
Gymnastics has given me an extraordinary life, having met many amazing people and travelling the world. My life has forever been changed by this incredible journey, helping me realise my full strength of character, with the life skills that I learnt being the driving force behind striving for success in the future.