I feel like I let my country down.

Those were some of the first words out of Mellisa Hollingsworth's mouth as she stood at the end of the slick skeleton track. A mixture of confusion, shock, sadness and frustration laced her face as she tried so desperately to hold back the tears.

She looked as though she couldn't believe what was actually happening. She finished her race, looked up and saw her name get knocked out of medal contention. I imagine all of a sudden things then turned black, her surroundings started to blur, hoping that there was some sort of a mistake.

The screaming crowds were drowned out by the pounding of her  heart, as the shock began   to settle in.
 
Mellisa didn't just want the gold medal for herself, she wanted it so badly for this country. With the media always ready for that perfect story, a camera was thrown in front of her face just as she realized that the medal she thought was hers, the medal the country thought was hers, was actually going to someone else.   

I feel like I let my country down.

Those few words were enough to make the grown men around me cry. A fellow athlete and Paralympian Tyler Mosher once told me "success sometimes is the collision of planning and luck and sometimes luck isn't on your side".

I couldn't have said it better. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and this experience might push Mellisa to reach new heights in her sport on her way to Sochi in 2014.

We are so proud of you Mellisa.

I hope that no athlete ever feels like they let this country down.  We are in awe of all that you do. Keep your head up and know that we're all behind you.