大象传媒

completely blew me away. It was a day I will never forget and one that confirmed my belief that the London Olympics in 2012 are going to be more passionate than any other.

Just seeing the emotion on some people's faces in the crowd brought me to tears; people shouting "thank you" and "well done" and jumping up and down. But really it was us that wanted to say "thank you" to them.

When everything is hurting during a race and you've tried everything, it is the knowledge that so many people back home and in the crowds are willing us on that carries us over the line. The support and enthusiasm of the British people are like nothing else I've ever experienced.

There were so many of us rowers that we had a float all to ourselves, which was fantastic. To be able to celebrate and soak up the day with all my team-mates was something really special.

I have hardly seen any of them to have a real conversation with since we left our hotel for the Olympic Village at the end of racing in Beijing, so there was a lot of news to catch up on.

It's so nice to see the people I have shared the ups and downs of the past four years with, looking so happy and relaxed and full of energy.

And this is all before we even got to Trafalgar Square! I can feel myself welling up now just thinking about when we turned the corner and saw the size of the crowd.

. How can anyone say that we are not a nation that is passionate about sport?

Listening to the interviews of the other athletes made me wish I could sit down for two weeks and just watch the Olympics all over, from beginning to end, catching up on all the amazing performances that I missed.

So much happened in such a short space of time; how can it all be over?

At least one thing never changes, and that is how efficient and organized the British Olympic Association is. We were whisked away as soon as the final bits of ticker tape fell down for some warm lunch and a bit of quiet time before the next major installment of our day: Buckingham Palace.

The highlight of the evening for me was seeing the physios and coaches and support staff on the team (who had not been involved in the parade). These are the people that hold us together day in day out of all the years we are competing; through all the highs and lows.

Being able to have a hug and to be able to genuinely say how you are, without the context of a race coming up or a race just gone by, is an occasion that I savour beyond measure as I know it only comes by once every four years.

I still don't know whether this time will come around again for me. It certainly reminds me of why I have always dreamt of being an Olympian, and reminds me that it is always better than you could ever imagine, and that words just cannot describe the experience.

One thing I do know though is that life since Beijing has been an entirely new and exciting one. This is the longest holiday I have had for 14 years, and I'm enjoying it all.