Reliving My First Olympic Games: A Journey Back to Atlanta

Imagine this: the anticipation, the excitement, and the nerves that come with stepping out into an Olympic stadium, wearing the green and gold for the very first time. For me, it’s a visceral memory, and this year I had the incredible opportunity to revisit it in Atlanta, the city where my Olympic journey began, winning BRONZE with Kerri Pottharst and coach Steve Anderson, 27 years ago!

Can you spot Jordan, Sarah and I in Centennial Park, 27 years on after winning Bronze in my first Games? I can't wait to see Brisbane's park legacy for the Games. 

Spending time recently with our Paris 2024 Olympic hopefuls, during the team processing session at the Deloitte offices here in Brisbane, I got swept up in that excitement once again. The way the athletes’ faces light up as they see themselves in the green and gold for the first time takes me right back; it feels just like yesterday, I was a wide-eyed 21-year-old, preparing to represent my country on the biggest stage of them all – the Olympic Games in Atlanta, 1996.

That Opening Ceremony on 19 July 1996 holds a special place in my heart. I can still feel that rush of immense pride as I marched in my country’s colours, in front of 110,000 spectators. It’s a career highlight that will be forever etched in my memory. Sydney was amazing – there’s nothing like a home crowd – but Atlanta’s Opening Ceremony was different. It was my FIRST taste of Olympic magic, and it left an indelible mark on me. To witness Celine Dion, belt out ‘The Power of the Dream’ in a way that only she knows how was truly life-altering. And to then fulfil my dream to win an Olympic medal proves just how powerful our dreams really are!

Before playing in the Masters at Augusta golf tournament earlier this year, I made sure to pay a visit to Atlanta and its iconic Olympic sites, like the Opening Ceremony venue that has now been transformed into a college baseball stadium, and the beach volleyball stadium now turfed and operating as a community centre for concerts. Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park looked just spectacular, and brought a flood of emotions. With water features and art installations, rock sculptures and plaques, the park really captures the spirit of the 1996 Games and the Olympic movement. Its entrance proudly displays the Olympic rings, where countless visitors line up to take their happy snaps.

In a twist of fate, while I was there reliving my Olympic memories, Atlanta was also buzzing with 1,200 women's and girls' volleyball teams (that's over 15,000 girls!) who were in town for the Big South Girls National Qualifier. Centennial Olympic Park was alive with the sights and sounds of excited young athletes, which was an incredible atmosphere to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Games.

Of course, I had to revisit the beach volleyball stadium, Atlanta Beach, now transformed into a concert venue, with grass, not sand. They did leave some sand for beach volleyball courts for the community teams to enjoy. 

Stepping into the stadium, the memories came rushing back – the nerves before my Olympic debut, the anticipation of our first semi-final, the exhilaration of the bronze medal match with Kerri Pottharst, and the unwavering support from my family all the way through, proudly chanting "Aussie Aussie Aussie!" amidst a sea of people cheering "USA! USA!”. 

I also made sure to see Atlanta's Olympic Cauldron, which is now perched atop a hill near the city centre. It stands as a powerful symbol of the Olympic and Paralympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. The cauldron's flame, lit by none other than the legendary Muhammed Ali (who I was lucky enough to meet in the Olympic Village!), ignited my imagination back then, and today it makes me hopeful for how Brisbane's 2032 legacy will look.  

Our mantra is, "Once an Olympian, always an Olympian." The same holds true for host cities: once an Olympic city, always an Olympic city. So, post-2032, how will our city shape a space that celebrates a once-in-a-lifetime event, and inspires future generations to go after their dreams?

As we gain momentum towards Paris 2024, the runway into Brisbane 2032 comes into clearer focus. There is a buzz of the legacy already, and the Queensland government has a 2042 lens… but imagine 27 years on. That would be almost 2060! And, speaking from experience, I know that something truly extraordinary and life-changing awaits us.

Want to see more from Atlanta? Watch my tour of the beach volleyball stadium here: