I was lucky enough to compete at 3 Games, Aland, in 1991, IOW in 1993 and then Gibraltar in 1995. All were totally different, and all just the best experiences. I made friends from these games for life, and still in touch with many.
I could wax lyrical about all the memories, playing 20 questions with the IOM swim team on our first night in Gib, having quite a few shandies with the IOM team in Gib, beach day in Gib, with guess who? Yup, IOM team. Seeing people you haven’t seen since the last Games, and being so excited.
My favourite moments were in Aland when the boys won the 4x50m free relay, that was pretty special. Then seeing Peter Burgon swim his absolute heart out in the IOW, and how much it meant to him. And then topped off in Gibraltar, when Hanson won the gold in the 50m free, followed by the boys of Hanson, Peter, Peter Eggeling and Matthew Pye winning the gold again in the 4x50m relay, and breaking the records for the Games and for Orkney. They were faster than the Aland team, and still, 30 years on, hold these records in Orkney. For this relay, and others were they won silver.
I am so looking forward to seeing the Games in Orkney this year, and catching up with so many from home who are going, along with some now parents from other teams who are coming with their children who are now competing. That is part of the magic of the Games, when the next generations come along and bridge history.
I wish everyone competing this year all the best. I hope you all get PBs, and have a wonderful time. Medals get dusty, but the memories stay forever.
Memory added on May 22, 2025
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