What is it like as an athlete to experience the last few weeks leading up to an event that’s taken four years’ preparation? Triathlon title defender Kate Allen gives us some insight into her preparation.

As I fill out this questionnaire, the countdown to the Olympic Games is numbered at:

Thirty-two until the opening ceremony; 42 until the women’s triathlon.

When I think of the Olympics the first thing that comes to mind is …

... the opening celebrations.

To me the Olympic Games mean …

... that the best athletes from all over the world meet to compete against each other.

My official Olympic goal is ...

... to win a medal.

In secret, though, I’m dreaming of …

I don’t have any secret dreams!

To motivate myself for Olympic training I ...

... concentrate on my goal.

A typical training week for me at the moment encompasses …

... nine training sessions in the pool (45 kilometers), ten hours on the bike (300 km), six to eight hours of running (80 km).

Today I’ve already done ...

... two swimming sessions (10.4 km) and a running session (25 km).

In contrast to normal competitions, in Beijing I’m going to …

… not do anything different than usual.

What’s going to bring me extra good luck is …

... a good altitude training camp.

Apart from my own contests in Beijing I’m mainly interested in ...

… nothing else because I’m concentrating 100% on my event. That’s all I’m thinking of.

The athlete I’d most like to meet up with in the Olympic village is …

... nobody in particular. But that’s exactly what makes the Games so special: you meet amazing athletes and they’re all remarkable in their own way.

If I weren’t taking part in the Games in 2008 but in the ancient Olympic Games of 2500 years ago, I would probably compete in …

... long distance running.
Reg Ryan
Kate Allen
Samo Vidic
Kate Allen
Reg Ryan
Kate Allen