MAIL BOX: Dear Australians everywhere

Dear Australians everywhere,

RE: Your support of our Aussie Olympians battling it out for some limelight at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Firstly, I get it. Each to their own. Some of us like to stay up to the wee hours of the morning watching the playbacks of the Winter Games until our eyes turn to squares and we start believing Eddie McGuire might be a normal human being, and some of us don't. I get it and usually I am all for enjoying what you like and liking what you enjoy but when it comes to the Olympics and to our homegrown heroes, a certain amount of interest is paramount.

It's been a little over a week since the Winter Games kicked off in Vancouver and I have been there to watch every thrill, spill and chill. I have sat on the couch, convulsing with excitement as the best in the business offer their all in hope of placing in the top three. Skiers, snowboarders, skaters and speed demons have kept me captivated by their activities in Vancouver. What these athletes (and they are athletes) sign up for is a dedication to the extreme. They achieve extreme things. They put their bodies on the line to achieve things you and I couldn't even deem to be possible.

This is what makes the Winter Olympics so bloody fantastic. That these people are achieving such terrifying and terrific feats on a world stage where the pressure of every eye is upon them. Well, almost every eye.

Which brings me to my point. While I understand the Winter Olympics doesn't capture everyone's attention quite like my own, it should not retract from the amazing things these athletes are accomplishing - ours in particular. On Friday, our very own Torah Bright became the fourth athlete EVER from Australia to win an Olympic gold medal. Placing first in the women's half pipe, she has now won every major snowboarding competition in the world. She is, to put it quite simply, the best.

And I was shocked, dear Australians, to see how little excitement reveberated around Australia when this blessed event happened. How little celebration, how little interest was shown by every day individuals at her taking top marks and putting Australia above every other country in the world in the snowboarding arena. Even if you have no interest in snowboarding at all - like I have no interest in fly fishing - for a single person to go out representing Australia and come home as the undefeated best, that is something that should be celebrated by every Aussie.

And it's the same regardless of whether we win or come in last. These people are athletes performing on a world stage, representing out country and we have so much that's worth representing. To show a little interest, a little pride, a little support for them as they take on the best in the world on behalf of you and I, well it would be unAustralian not to.

You've got one week left, Australia. Make it count and watch with pride as your athletes take on the world.

Ciao for now. xo
(Image Credit: Merced Sun-Star)