AUS – Harrower: ‘It's all about hard work and the sacrifice you make to be here’

BEIJING (Olympics) - Kristi Harrower is one of the veterans of the Australia women’s team that is chasing gold in China.

The fiery point guard, a key ingredient in the Opals’ side that won the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, had nine points and five assists and also came up with three steals in the Aussie’s 83-64 win on Saturday.

She spoke to FIBA.com after the game.

FIBA: Congratulations Kristi on the big triumph over Belarus in your opening game. How important was it for Australia to getting off on the right foot?

Harrower: We always say that in the Olympic Games, the first game - it's the hardest. When I was shooting around, I found myself really heavy. I don't know if it was the early morning session or just the nerves that were inside of me. It was really important for our campaign to get off to a great start. I thought we looked flat at times but it's all nerves. The first game is so difficult.

FIBA: It looks as if it was a good decision not to attend the Opening Ceremony last night considering you had a 9am start today.

Harrower: The same thing happened to us in Athens. With the heat the way it is and the smog, it's too hard to march. Some of us just got dressed up in our opening ceremony uniforms and got some photos and then everybody left. We just hang around. It was a good night. We just chilled for a little bit.

FIBA: Kristi you have been at two Olympics before. Is this experience any different for you?

Harrower: To be honest, the first time out I had goose bumps and I didn't think I would feel like that. I wasn't nervous today but sometimes I feel as I am going to have a tear in my eye. It's all about hard work and the sacrifice you make to be here. You don't realize how important it is to step on court. Now, I am one of the oldest and I am just being a leader and just doing my job. I want to have a good campaign personally and with the team.

FIBA: Australia won the FIBA World Championship two years ago. How does it feel to be the team to beat?

Harrower: I still don't think we are the team to beat. I think Team USA is but we are right up there. I suppose we just don't want to put that pressure on ourselves or on the team. I think playing the Americans the other day (in the FIBA Diamond Ball final), and you see how many stars they have on their team and to only lose by four, well, our finish wasn't very good. We are right there now and I believe we can win the gold medal.

FIBA: Against Team USA in the Final Diamond Ball, did Australia play at 100%?

Harrower: We were. I think we did but we haven't had that many sessions together. Lauren (Jackson) hasn't done that much training and then I had a bit of an ankle injury. I think once we are together for a while like now, hopefully we will make the gold medal game.

FIBA: Belarus are a tough team and were a real surprise last year at the EuroBasket where they won bronze. What did you make of them as they are playing in their first Olympics.

Harrower: We were worried about Belarus. I'd never played against them. Belarus play hard, they are competitive, they need to stick together.

FIBA