Wow! There is no way I will be able to put into words exactly how the last month has been but I will try my best. There were many highs, lows and everything in between but overall an experience of a lifetime and 16 days I will never, ever forget.

Arriving at the village, and walking into our amazing condos set the mood right away for the Games as us girls ran around screaming with excitement! My team stayed on the same floor in one of the two Canada buildings and couldn't believe how nice the accommodations were.

During the next couple days we got accustomed to the village and focussed on our training as we were racing the first day of competition. But before the races started we had the Opening Ceremony. There was no way our team was going to miss walking in that stadium behind the Canadian flag. The lead-up was huge, as we had to wait in line for all the countries to walk out before us. But when we got to the entrance and they announced Canada and the crowd went wild, it was a moment I will never forget. I also walked in with my brother Jamie beside me, something not many people get to experience.

The first day of races went well, I was very nervous on the start line of my 500m, but once the gun went off, it was just 4.5 laps I had to do, something I have done so many times in my life... which is what I kept telling myself. The only thing different was the crazy loud crowd cheering us on! The relay semi was also good that day; we made it through to the next round smoothly behind the Chinese team.

A couple days of rest and training to get primed for the next day of racing which was the 500m finals for me. By that time the nerves were pretty much gone and I was just excited and ready to race. The quarter final was pretty crazy for me, I got knocked down a couple times but managed to get a good start finally and came second to qualify.

Everyone was asking me after how I was able to focus after getting knocked down and then going right back to the starting line, but that's what my sport is all about, reacting in the moment and refocusing in a spilt second.

My semi final was a race I executed exactly how I wanted to. I got off the line right from the start and lead the whole race from the start to finish. I remember being on the line and just focussing solely on what I had to do to. Crossing that finish line I pumped my hands in the air and took in the crowd because it was an amazing moment and a dream coming true for me, I had made the A final at the Olympics.

In the next semi, my teammate Marianne made it through as well so we had two Canadians in the A final. It was hard not to think about the medals at the point but we had to refocus and get ready for one more.

I got knocked down once again on the first start and the race was restarted. Then there was a false start. The third time going to the line the gun went off and we all went hard into the first corner. I got caught up in between two skaters as I had third position on the line and got bumped from the outside skater, and fell behind the group coming out of the first corner. The rest of the race I kept thinking don't give up you never know, but the other girls are so fast too, that it was too hard to close the gap that was created at the start.

I crossed the line in fourth. My teammate came second, and I was happy for her, but it hurt to be that close, yet so far. That race will be played over and over in my mind I'm sure over the next little while, but as we saw with all the other events, each final comes down to who performs at a specific moment and I guess that race just wasn't my time to shine.

I look at it now as a motivator for the next four years to come, because I know I was capable of winning an individual medal, I just have to wait!

We had some time off before I raced again. I tried to put that race behind me and focus on the relay and 1000m still to come.

We were all nervous yet so excited for that relay final, and when we got on the ice and the whole building was chanting "Canada" I knew it was going to be awesome. We got off to a great start and were right with the top two teams for most of the race. The pace was very fast and we were having the best race ever. With a couple laps to go we were comfortably in third and I tried to stay calm but when we crossed the finish line I was  ecstatic.

The crowd was going crazy and us girls were too! We had just skated the fastest time we have ever done and came in third! But moments later they announced the disqualification of the Korean team so we got upgraded to silver!

We were so happy and knew we skated well for that bronze medal, but to get silver is the cherry on top of a cake! Plus we all agreed it looks nicer!

We had the medal ceremonies the next night, and stepping on that podium in front of such a huge audience was an amazing feeling. It was one that not many athletes get to experience, so I soaked it all in!

We couldn't celebrate too much though as three of us were skating the 1000m the next day. My goal was to come top eight, which I achieved after coming second in the quarter final. But the races weren't over, and I skated my best to come sixth overall. I was very excited with that, but the highlight of that night was the boys on my team!

They managed to come first and third in the 500m earlier on and skated an amazing race in the relay to be the Olympic champions! My teammates and I went crazy, as well as everyone else in the building! What a great way to wrap up the Games!

My team was also at the gold medal hockey game, another finish that made the crowd go crazy and fans from all over proud to be Canadian, because we not only won at "our game" but that gold medal put Canada to 14 gold medals, a record for any country at the Winter Olympics. No, we didn't win the most medals in Vancouver, but we sure did own that top spot and made Canada proud, or so I have heard!

The moment that I will remember the most along with being on that podium however is after my 500m final when I came up the stands to see my family and friends. I couldn't believe how many people were there to support me and I know I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

You guys know who you are.  Thank you so much!!