UPS London 2012 Ambassadors

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I've been in touch and told you all my news, so here goes! On the 11^th of April, I had the opportunity to get together with Ben Ainslie, Louis Smith and Steve Rider (the three other UPS London 2012 Olympic Games brand ambassadors), for a packed day of filming and press interviews before the Games kick off. Because of our busy schedules and Louis and Ben's intense Games preparation, we've hardly had a chance to catch up, do some work and have a bit of fun of course!

 

We had loads to get through on the day... Press interviews, photography shoot and round table Q&A session, not to mention a poignant film shoot in front of a green screen - a bit tricky with Louis cracking us all up every two minutes!

 

For the Q&A component, the UPS team asked us to bring something small that meant a great deal to each. I decided on a set of tiny screw-in training spikes, the little thingabobs that I attached to my shoes to give them grip during training and competition. For something so small, they were absolutely vital to my performance on the day... Sometimes the smallest things really do mean the most.

 

The other ambassadors brought in some fantastic things too. Steve brought his very first official Olympic Games press pass! From the photo you'd never guess that it was from Moscow Games way back in 1980... He looks exactly the same! Ben brought the Union Jack flag he flew with pride after winning Olympic Gold for sailing in Beijing in 2008. Louis also brought a special memento from Beijing- his prized Olympic Bronze medal that he won in the Gymnastics pommel horse event.

 

Ben and Louis told us about all the ways they're training and preparing for the upcoming Games, which are just a few short months away now. Listening to them explain how excited (and nervous) they were made me think back to how I felt pre-Sydney in 2000 and how proud I felt to represent my country doing what I loved.

 

The good news is that I get to do it all over again at London 2012. With one difference... Instead of competing, I'll be trackside presenting! The hype in London is slowly and surely building and I can't wait for it all to unfold.

 

Chat to you soon,

 

Denise

Last time I chatted to you about all the things I've been up to. This time I thought I'd share with you some of the stories of what my fellow UPS London 2012 ambassadors and I have been doing with the team at UPS.

In honour of London 2012, UPS employees are contributing 2,012 volunteer hours to the Games and we've been helping them achieve their goal - and having some fun along the way too. The employee volunteer program is important to UPS for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's a chance for us to help inspire and encourage the team; an opportunity for them to bond, and lastly, it's a way of helping the wider UK team feel a part of London 2012. And this is what they did:

My fellow ambassador and Olympic young gun, gymnast Louis Smith visited the UPS Call Centre in Nottingham, met the team and gave them the opportunity to ask some burning questions. In short, his favourite music is reggae, he loves chicken, rice and peas, and if he weren't a gymnast he'd be a singer!

Then it was my turn to roll my sleeves up and get my hands dirty (literally)! With the help of Louis and a team of enthusiastic UPS employees, we helped clear the St. James Churchyard Garden in Piccadilly, London as part of the rejuvenation of the space as a legacy project.

Last but not least, as part of the Get Fit For 2012 campaign, adidas invited all the London 2012 sponsors to compete and battle it out in a series of events. The events included football, squash, badminton, swimming, volleyball and even Sumo wrestling. Thanks to dedication and team participation, Team UPS beat Deloitte, Visa, BMW, adidas and won the Inter-Company Challenge!

With the Games just a few months away I'm looking forward to adding a few more hours to the pot and seeing what the team has me doing next!

 

Speak to you soon,

Denise

When I retired from professional sport I thought life would slow down slightly, but if
anything, my weeks are busier and even more chaotic. There's no such thing as a
typical week for me anymore. Training for up to 6 hours a day, everyday used to
provide more structure to my time. Now that my time has freed up, I am able to
do more with it.

From filming TV programmes and representing various brands, to speaking to young people and politicians - every week is different. And that's the professional side of things! I'm also a mom, a wife and a very proud London 2012 ambassador. I have to be ruthlessly organised and plan everything ahead of time. Having a strong
and supportive team helps enormously, a little bit of delegation goes a long way.

People have heard a lot about my sporting "bests" over the years but there have been so many personal "bests" that I'm equally proud of. My wedding day and the healthy birth of my children are daily reminders of how blessed I am.

Presenting to the IOC in the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games was a tremendous honour. It was followed by an anxious wait, but I will never forget the moment the
final announcement was made.

These are the memories that stand out and bring me great pride and joy, and make all the busy, chaotic weeks more than worthwhile.

Speak to you soon,

Denise

Working alongside UPS has made me think a little bit more about the logistics behind a staging (and competing) in a heptathlon event. The fact that you need 15 pieces of equipment before you even begin the event makes it one of the most logistically "challenging" sports in the world. These include 3 different shots, 3 javelin spears, 7 pairs of spikes, 1 pair of trainers and 1 pair of weightlifting shoes! In addition, there are various logistical processes that are key to competing successfully in a heptathlon, including:

• Planning your travel to competition venues well before the event.


• Making sure that all your equipment is safe, sound and easy to access


• Ensuring the whole team is in the right place at the right time.


• Maintaining clear communication channels at all times.

It's usually the athlete's job to make sure the equipment is packaged properly for transportation to the venue. Then it's up to the Governing Body or in case of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the British Olympic Association to liaise with UPS to ensure equipment is delivered safely to the final destination. That being said, I would keep my orthotics in my hand luggage no matter where I was travelling! Oh, and Egbert (my teddy) always travelled with me. Then on competition day, I would be in charge of making sure I have the right spikes for the right event and suitable clothing for the weather conditions and any possible change in the weather at a later stage during the day. It's a lot to think about. Before you can even begin to think about your performance!
The heptathlon (and all the planning and preparation that goes with it) is as much of a mental competition as a physical one. Focus and mental strength are just as important as muscular strength. To help myself prepare mentally, I would visualise my performance, down to the smallest detail. I rehearsed them over and over in my mind until they were flawless in my mind's eye. Then I could go out and try make them happen.
I suppose I've always been "logistically-minded" in my approach to competitions, without even realising it. Teaming up with UPS made me realise how important those little things were and in all probability, played a big part in my story.
Denise