I represented New Zealand on some of the world’s biggest athletic stages throughout my sporting career. My proudest achievement was winning gold at the 1997 world championships in Athens. It was a moment where I threw my game plan out the window, which paid off; by the time I got to the last round of throws, I knew I would be the world champion. No one had beaten my distance from the third round; it was the most surreal feeling – I had just won New Zealand’s first world title in the discus. Standing on top of the dias and hearing the national anthem of New Zealand was an incredible moment.

What made that win in 1997 special was sharing it with my mother Roini, who travelled to Athens last minute and my coach Les Mills through the phone calls I had with them that day and the media interviews broadcast back home in New Zealand. My sporting achievements were never mine alone they were the reflection of the support network I had around me, something I am forever grateful for.

As an athlete, I was privileged to represent New Zealand at four Olympic Games, including the Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games. I retired from athletics in 2010 after Commonwealth Games in Delhi.