Olympian beki lee
Olympian beki lee
A ROCKY road to the Olympics didn't stop Beki Lee from striding to her best personal time in London.
The 20-kilometre race walker who grew up in Mount Druitt is looking towards Rio in 2016 and beyond. She hopes her event will be reinstated in for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Lee didn't win an Olympic medal but made headlines after accepting her partner Dan's marriage proposal at the finish line.
Now based in Canberra, Lee returned to Sydney last week to attend a homecoming party for indigenous Olympians at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.
She missed out on most of the Olympic homecoming ceremonies while travelling in Europe.
"My culture is part of who I am and something I'm proud of,"' she told the Star.
"Hopefully we inspired other indigenous kids."
Competing at the Olympics for the first time was an experience she'll never forget.
"My preparations weren't great," Lee said.
"I had a niggling foot injury which held me back. I needed time out but all I could do was keep walking. The last eight kilometres were tough, as I had been unable to train. It was exciting to be part of the fastest race in the history of the event. The crowd kept me motivated."
Lee met sporting legends Layne Beachley and Kieren Perkins during her week in the athlete's village and was in the stadium to see hurdler Sally Pearson win gold.
"Sally and I went to our first international meet together at the world juniors in 2003 so it was inspiring to see her win," she said.
Lee will work at the AIS shop.
She has resumed light training ready for a meet in December.