Melissa Courtney says she has only watched her Commonwealth Games bronze medal winning run once – and that was to please her family.
The 24-year-old met up with her parents and boyfriend at the Team Wales base at Kurrawa Surf Club the day after bagging her first major medal in the 1500m on Tuesday.
“I think it has just about sunk in now, getting the medal, feeling proud. Lots of emotions,” Courtney told Dai Sport after being presented with her medal at Carrara Stadium 24 hours after her superb run in the final.
“I couldn’t sleep after winning the medal and all I was thinking about is ‘you need sleep, need to recover, you’ve still got the 5000m’, but I couldn’t stop looking at my phone, seeing all the messages.
“I managed to see my family at the Welsh house at the surf club. My parents and boyfriend are here.
“I’ve watched the final once. I don’t really like watching it back but my family were saying ‘no we want to see it’.
“I got a bit nervous watching it but it was really exciting to watch. It was a good fast race and I really enjoyed it
“Hopefully my first major medal is the springboard. I caught up with my coach Rob (Denmark) and we were reflecting back on the race and how a big opportunity this was for me.
“Hopefully it will be a major stepping stone for me as I’d not come to a major Championships before like this let alone get into the final and get a medal.”
The Poole-born runner, whose mother, Liz, hails from Caerphilly, will now turn her attentions to Saturday’s 5000,, final which was due to be her main target.
“My body has recovered quite well and I feel good and I’m looking forward to the 5000m,” added Courtney.
“I’ll be raring to go Saturday. I think I can go in there really relaxed, obviously, a bit nervous, but I’m so happy with this medal so whatever happens I’ll be leaving these Games a really happy athlete.
“I’ll just do my best.
“I’ve definitely exceeded my expectations as the priority was always the 5000m.
“That was the event I wanted to do well in. In the 1500m I was thinking I want to get to the final, but then I started realising I was in good shape and I could get a medal.
“I’m excited for the 5k. I don’t really know much about it, how to race it, but we’ll see how it goes.
“The focus in the training has been the 5000m so it shows the longer reps, the higher mileage, all that kind of thing it suits me perhaps for the 1500m as I’ve got more speed than I’ve ever had doing the long stuff.”
Courtney prepared for the Games at training camps in Kenya and the Pyrenees – but will soon head to South Africa for another training block ahead of the season in Europe.
There the focus will be the Europeans in Berlin in August – though she has not decided at which distance.
Courtney added: “The Europeans is the target, though now I don’t know whether I want to do the 1500 or the 5k.
“I’m going to South Africa training for three weeks in May so I’ll start racing in June and see which one I want to do at the British Championships.
“I’m really excited for what the future holds and the rest of the season and hopefully a few more medals.”