ITF

89 In Sydney, there was a different kind of pressure, the added thing of playing at home. The lead-up to it was the same in my own mind, in that I went into it as the No. 1 player and the No. 1 seed, and the hometown favourite as well, so I had high expectations for myself. But this was a bit different because I was playing at home knowing that I would never have that chance again. I only had one shot at it. I think I had been around enough up to that point, so I had that experience of dealing with things and I had good people around me who were offering very good advice, and so I could keep a level head. I had a hell draw so I thought if I am going to do it, I am going to have to do it the hard way. By the time I got to the gold medal match with Stevie [Welch] I kind of realised that it was now or never. I remember being on a practice court before that match and they had not opened the doors to the stadium yet and the line to get in was just astronomical. Stevie had lost to Ricky [Molier] four years earlier so I think he wanted that gold just as much as I did. When he won the first set I was like, "Well, you've got to buckle down now," and I think the crowd really did play a part because after that set they gave me a real lift. After I won I just couldn't believe it. All that expectation and build-up and emotional energy that I had stored was just released after that and I think I was in a bit of a state of shock more than anything else. It was a wonderful moment. My coach Rich [Berman] was such a huge part of my career and I can just remember being in the change rooms before the Sydney gold medal match and he said, "No matter what happens out there, I am proud of you," and those little conversations and those memories are very strong. My partner had all the good luck charms. She would be in the stands and she would have all the cosmic universe energy, you know, trying to get that gold for me. When you have a wonderful moment come around, you want to share it with the people who were key to you. I will be the first to admit, I was very selfish when it came to my career and my goals. I just thought I had to be all in. So when you have a wonderful moment come around, you want to share it with the people who were key to you and who have put themselves in a position to help out. I really wanted to make sure that we all celebrated together. You've got to be all in, and in the end all you can do is the very best that you can, and if that is good enough you will do it and if not, then you have to wait four more years. That is the hardest thing to deal with. I remember the emotion of it, especially Sydney. When I talk about it I can feel the emotion of it because it was so strong and so real at the time, but when I look back on it from all these years passed it does almost seem dream-like. Going back to the birthplace of the Olympics in Athens was fantastic. I got out of the Village and stayed a couple of nights in the city and that was great. I always remember I used to go to this one newspaper stand and talk to the guy down there in the mornings. He was an old Greek gentleman and we would have chats about Athens and how the tennis was going. I never really wanted to get so caught up that I couldn't enjoy the experience as well. I think winning the medals and being No. 1 did open up a lot of doors for me, and that has been wonderful. I think that is a great part of going to an Olympics or a Paralympics. I don't think at the time you really think about any of that, you are just trying to focus on the tennis court, but it is afterwards it can open doors and I think that is a great thing. There are different aspects to it and I think that is what I try to do now with the role I have with Tennis Australia, going into the rehab centres and talking to the guys and girls who are going through life-changing experiences.

• Cover