Charlotte Cox

It was the most nervous I’ve been before a race.  The starter warned all the girls that if anyone had a false start they would be disqualified.  It was a tough race in very hot conditions.

Mum said it would be a Trivial Pursuits question in the future:

Q. What was the first national anthem played at the first World Games for Athletes with Down Syndrome.

A. God Save The Queen

I won Gold – it was fantastic.  When I stood on the podium and they played the National Anthem I felt so proud, everybody cheered and Mum cried.

The World Champion - 100m

Tomorrow it’s the long jump and possibly the 400m.

This morning we enjoyed a wonderful opening ceremony with all the athletes.  There was lots of Mexican dancing it was very colourful.  The weather has been kind to us today, the sun has found Mexico again – but it is very hot.  Mum has had to buy us hats to keep us a bit cooler.

We have been joined by a lady from the British Embassy who has come to watch the opening ceremony and the first few events.  It has been very useful having her here as she has been able to translate for us.  She has to leave us tomorrow as she has to accompany the British Abassador to an event.

Mum has been speaking to a man from the press who is doing an article for British expatriates living in Mexico – mum was surprised as he was not local but from Manchester.

Everyone is very kind and friendly.  People keep coming up to me and saying “hello Charlotte” and having their photos taken with me.  It seems that many of the countries when trying to find out about the competition have been “Googling” World Games, Mexico and finding my blog – so everyone has been following my blog all round the world.

My friend Mikael and I in our GB kit.

The first events will start this evening a little later than expected from 5pm until 9pm (11pm to 3am UK time).

Visited the event track today – it’s a typical municipal athletics stadium like I’m used to running on.  All the teams had an open training session, there are some very strong teams from South America.

All the teams’ officials have a briefing this evening in readiness for the start of events tomorrow.  The opening ceremony will take place tomorrow morning and I have my first event in the afternoon the 100m (heats and final).  Competition will run from 4.00pm until 8.00pm tomorrow afternoon and evening (10.00pm – 2.00am UK time).

Moved to the official event hotel today, meeting all the different delegations as they arrive.  Around 40 countries are here at the last count including China, South Africa, Italy, Austria, Finland and numerous South American countries, more are expected before the competion starts.

We get to visit the track tomorrow where the competition will be held.  It will be an opportunity to do some proper training.

Today is Mum and Dad’s wedding anniversary.  This is the longest time they’ve been apart in 24 years of marriage.  Dad had a lovely bouquet of flowers delivered – Mum loved them.

The weather is disrupting training.  The middle of the day is unbearably hot and every afternoon and evening we’ve been here has seen heavy rain and thunder storms.  Training is limited to aqua aerobics in the swimming pool – it’s the colest place to be.  

If the weather continues like this it will disrupt the games as all the events are programmed to take place in the late afernoon early evening – to avoid the mid day heat.

Not much sleep last night.  The temperature is uncomfortably hot and we had a terrific thunderstorm circle the bay.

The weather for the next few days is looking rather stormy.

We’re safely bedded down at our hotel in Puerto Vallarta.

Sufferring from jet lag from the flight here, tired, relaxed, sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

We touched down at Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (Puerto Vallarta) at 12.32pm  local time (18.32pm in the UK).

Now in hotel relaxing.

Took off from Charlotte, North Carolina a little late (again) at 9.38am on route to Puerto Vallarta.

We should arrive at 12.26pm local time.

Flying over: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico …… nearly there.

Arrived at Terminal 7 at JFK Airport, New York at 4.00am to find it closed!!  Thought it was linked to Hurricane Earl – but fortunately it was just the airport doesn’t open until one hour before the first flight – ours.

Departed JFK on an Airbus A319 a little bit later than expected at 6.42am.  The flight was expected to land in Charlotte, North Carolina at 8.22am but must have had a bit of a tail wind as we landed in Charlotte at 7.58am.  The flight was a bit turbulent as we skirted Hurricane Earl.

Weather in Charlotte fair 64F with a very light SW wind.

We take off for the final leg of our outbound journey to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at 9.29am.