My Olympic experience was a roller coaster of mostly highs. I was so focused on it for the past four years and made sure I did everything I could in order to win a medal. I had a tough year where most people said it would be impossible for me to even jump never mind jump well enough to be competitive.

I knew I could do it and told myself "make it happen." My coach and I never stopped believing and after everything, I went in to the Games jumping amazing. Everyone on the hill saw it; even my competitors and their coaches mentioned it to us before the event.
 
I was in a bubble of focus. We had a plan and I didn't want any distractions. I didn't watch TV, I didn't go online and I missed out on the opening ceremony.

'So much more than medals'

In competition I had a great first jump just like I knew I could. I was sitting in third place. Then unfortunately on my second jump it went pretty bad. Nothing major or dangerous, but despite the lead I had going in I dropped all the way to 15th and didn't make the finals.

I was devastated. My heart was broken. When there are so many athletes that don't get what they want out of the Games, why do we all agree to let one event count for so much? For a few hours the morning after my event, I hated the Olympics.

Then I stepped out of my misery box to meet my coach's dad. He came walking up with a huge smile on his face and an accreditation so full of pins I thought he was going to tip forward. It snapped me out my bubble.

And then I saw it. 

The Olympics are about so much more than medals. When I looked around all I could see was people cheering, wearing red and uniting on such a positive note. There wasn't even an event going on around us. They didn't seem to care that Canada wasn't winning the medal count. They were loving life and loving being Canadian.

Words from a mentor 

I was being congratulated on what I felt was a poor performance. I didn't want it to look like I was just there to participate. I was so disappointed I never got to show the world how great I had been doing. Then the people close to me made it clear they did know how great I had been doing because they were there on the hill with me. I can be happy with that. Then after all the emails and people who came up to me it became apparent, somehow most people seemed to have an idea of what it took.

I had a special moment when Marnie McBean, who I have looked up to for a long time for her strength and intolerance for mediocrity, ran into me and stopped to talk. I couldn't believe she knew my name. She told me she knew what I had done and was proud of me. SHE was proud of ME? It took a few minutes, but by the end I believed her. Wow that felt good and meant so much.

Canada went above and beyond what it takes. Even my fellow competitors from around the world told me how impressed they are with these Olympics. Despite all the challenges, everything from the accommodations to the venues was outstanding. So much went in to these Games and Canada, just like the athletes, gave everything it had and it paid off.

Canadians showed their true selves and made what I believe are the best winter games in history.