"Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and
excited to see us.
"Every minute outside the hotel, we were escorted by
a squad of police. About 6000 police were flown in
from Bogotá to help with the Games. Any
transportation involved police on the bus with us and
flashing police motorbikes in front of us stopping all
traffic, and behind us keeping people away.
"Every run on at the start of each session was
massive. The roar of the crowd was so amazing! I’ve
never heard anything like that before. I never
thought in my wildest dreams I would be standing in
front of 20,000 people wearing the Australian
tracksuit listening to people cheer us on.
"No words can adequately describe what we experienced."
So how did they do? Janelle and her tea m qualified in 8th place for the Games and they placed 6th on the day, so
they are very proud of their performance. Janelle says it that was the highest score they have every received.
Aerodance also allows men and women to compete against each other and Janelle's team was one of only two all-girl
teams, competing against all-male and mixed male/female teams, so they are doubly pleased with their result.
Janelle and her team want to thank ACTON Fremantle, the ACTON Group and everyone in the ACTON family that
supported them on this journey. It was a great chance to represent Australia and the experience of a lifetime.
Janelle has just returned from the National Championships where the team achieved gold and made the national
squad again. However, after many successful years in the sport, it is with sadness that she has announced her
retirement.
"It's time for a new direction - my fiancé and I are just about to start building our dream home, we are planning our
wedding, and hopefully kids will follow in the future. Another one of my team mates has retired to start a family too."
However, this may not mean the end, who knows what the future will bring.
"I will always have a love for the sport and maybe I will go back one day after I've had children. After all, the one
thing my coach always told us when we started complaining too much was that there are world champions out there
who are in their 40’s,who have had kids and returned to the sport.....we'll just have to wait and see!"
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