London, Glasgow, Rio - all through a career in sport, Sian Knott

I knew when I qualified as a physiotherapist that I wanted to work in sport and I also knew then that my ambition was to work at an Olympic Games. My career path then became a stepping stone to achieving this. The journey has been long with a number of knock backs along the way, but my motto has always been; if at first you don't succeed try, try again. I knew of a physiotherapist called Nicky Phillips who was herself involved in Commonwealth and Olympic Games and I sought her help initially for advice but soon she was my mentor and friend.

I had been qualified seven years by the time I went to my first Commonwealth Games with Team Wales in Manchester and I can remember to this day the pride and emotion I felt walking into the stadium as part of the team at the opening ceremony. The roar of the crowd was deafening and the hairs on my arms stood up as a shiver tingled down my spine. That experience wetted my appetite for more.

Working in sport is challenging at the best of times. However, combining that with being a mother adds to the complexities. Sport isn't a 9-5 job and often requires evening and weekend input as well as periods of time away from home, varying from overnight to up to a month when travelling with a team or working at a games. This is probably the aspect that I have found the most challenging. You need to be on top of your game when working in elite sport, so you need to have your finger on the pulse when it comes to best practice, keeping up to date with research and new innovations. Keeping on top of this day to day stuff is hard, but balancing being a mother and travelling is probably the hardest barrier to overcome. When interviewing for games positions I've been asked on more than one occasion about this time away from family and whether it would affect my work. There is also the disapproving comments or body language from family and friends who find it difficult to comprehend that I should choose to go away for long periods of time. Eight games later I can honestly say it’s still as hard now to go and leave the children as it was the first time, and I never take the decision to go lightly, but it’s part of the job I do which has its own rewards; like when you see athletes that you have supported and worked with over a long period of time achieve the highest accolade of their career.

Opportunities in my role have come in many guises. I've been honoured to work with some incredible athletes, many from a young age, and to be part of their journey has been a privilege.

I've witnessed some incredible sporting moments, too many to list, but some of the most memorable have included being in the Olympic stadium when Usain Bolt ran the 100m final in the London Olympics, and working with the Welsh gymnastics team for 7 years culminating in Frankie Jones receiving the David Dixon award at the Glasgow games.

My job allows me to work as part of a team. Not just a medical team, but a wider science and medicine team where everyone shares the goal of helping athletes perform at their best.  I’m also privileged to work with experts in the field across the home countries. I've had opportunities to travel to countries and places that I'm not sure I would have visited had it not been for sport. I may not have seen much outside of the hotel, training / competition venue, but I can at least put a pin on the map and say I've been there!!

Of course none of this would be possible without the support of my family. My husband who’s my absolute rock and my children who, although find it hard when I'm away, are immensely proud of the work that I do and the bragging rights this gives them! I even discover that my kit finds its way into my son’s wardrobe!

This summer as I head to Rio for a month, I pledge to inspire other girls to believe that you should follow your dreams, take every opportunity that comes your way and believe in yourself.