Living in Australia at the time, I was lucky enough to be in Melbourne for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The city embraced the event wholeheartedly and with iconic venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Rod Laver Arena pressed into action, combined with a sport loving public it was a great place to be.
By the time Melbourne came around, I had gained a lot more international experience, but had been disappointed with my swims at the 2005 World Championships and was eager to redeem myself in 2006.
Kate Haywood will be at her third Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010, having made her international debut in the 2002 event in Manchester. She also went to Melbourne 4 years later and here recalls her memories of both.