As a child I dreamed of making a life out of something I was passionate about. I used to go to sleep at night praying to God to make me good at sport. Now I'm not certain if it was my prayers being answered, or if it's my self-made destiny.

Growing up as a competitive swimmer, cross-country runner and Surf  Lifesaver in Wamberal on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, I could have never thought of picking up another sport, but that's exactly what I did.

Being an extremely determined little girl I was always keen to give everything a go and Triathlon was no different. After getting a bike for my 13th birthday the next day I found myself on the starting line for my very first Triathlon. I came in second place and I think this is part of what kept me in the sport, I just wasn't satisfied so I strove to be the best.

Just one short year later I qualified for the prestigious televised Triathlon series, the Triathlon Grand Prix (as it was called back then) as a 14-year-old.

Since then I have had some great years, including "Rookie of the Year" for my first year in the Grand Prix followed by three consecutive "Runner's Up" awards behind the likes of then Senior World Champion Jackie Gallagher.

Winning the Oceania Championships in 1996, my first year as a 16-year-old, is still one of my all time favourite moments so far as a Junior Triathlete. Following this race I was selected to travel through Europe with the Australian team for 2 months, to gain experience through racing and training with the best athletes in the world.

After returning home in great shape ready to take on my first World Junior Championships I was struck down with an injury and carried this into the competition. I finished 3rd and was very pleased with this result after nearly pulling out altogether.

In 1998 I travelled to Germany and raced for 3 months in my Sponsors club team - Asics Witten. I had a very successful season there winning the Top 4 Tour, winning an ETU Cup race in Poland and racing in Italy. Later that year I came 4th in the Junior World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In 1999 I relocated from my family's home to join my new coach Rod Cedaro in Queensland. In early 1999 I was struck down again with an injury and much of this was during the peak season. Being a person who never let things like injuries get them down, I bounced back after having much of the season off to win the Junior Oceania Championships again.

I travelled to Hawaii in 1999 to join my coach as a spokesperson at an underprivileged camp for kids and also to participate in a testing program for altitude training. I had a great time in Hawaii training and racing, and coming into some of the best form of my career.

I then went over to Canada to compete again in the 1999 Junior World Championships. Just days out from the race I was faced with the biggest blow to my career so far when I was struck down by a virus. This time there was no way I could race, so I swore I would be back better than ever for my last year as a Junior in 2000.

I had home ground advantage coming up in Perth and I was going to make it my best. I was on a mission and nothing was going to stop me. Although suffering bad blisters on the run leg I achieved the highest place so far in my career and that was 2nd. Now there is only one place left and I will not lie down until I have it. That's the sort of person I am!