"I had to pinch myself that it was real and I will have these memories for the rest of my life!" says an utterly thrilled Loots, who is the pharmacist and manager of Village Pharmacy.
It took a while for this dream to come true because she applied in 2014 and went through various rigorous selection processes.Only in August 2015 did she find out that she had been accepted – and on Thursday, August 4, she winged her way to Rio, returning only last week.
Her actual involvement with the athletes and access to places that were sacrosanct except for the medical and pharmacy team (not even coaches) was also much more than she could ever have expected.
"We were very much involved with the athletes – looking after their needs from the moment they arrive at the stadium until they walk onto the track.
"We were there for them helping at the warming-up track (whatever they might need, we provided), then to the pre-call room where their numbers had to be put on and checked that it matched the printout schedule. Their coaches weren't allowed to be with them from that point onwards. After that they go to the call room (just before they go on the track).
They do their last minute warm-up, their spikes get checked for length, they get checked that they don't have anything on them that is prohibited," explains Loots.
She says that just before the start of each event, she was one of the team who put out the their lane numbers and starting blocks on the track."
"We literally had access everywhere, which made this even more special. Working this closely with the athletes I've admired my whole life was very surreal.
I was surrounded by Usain Bolt (Jamaica), Allyson Felix (USA), Wayde van Niekerk (SA), Caster Semenya (SA), Yohan Blake (Jamaica), Mohamed Farah (Great Britain), Justin Gatlin (USA), just to name a few," says Loots, adding that "seeing every single item on the track, within arm's length from the athletes, was an experience money couldn't buy".
Rules were strict and nobody working on various teams was allowed to take photos or videos, but she sneaked a few, including one with the fastest runner in the world Usain Bolt, which was a real coup because he does not take photos with anybody – and only did it because a Jamaican friend of Loots told him she was from South Africa.
"It was a real privilege to be surrounded by icons on a daily basis," says Loots, who has been sport mad all her life and has sat glued to a TV for every previous Olympic game.
She says the stadiums were very far apart and travelling between them was a challenge, but Rio did amazingly well to make it run as smoothly as it did. "We got a special travel card to travel free everywhere in Rio, and that made a huge difference travelling from one area to another.
The transport and stadiums were state of the art and I was very impressed with how they have handled this Olympics. The Brazilians were so friendly and helpful, and the vibe was just unbelievable."
Was there any time to sight see?
"I got a few days off to explore Rio and what an amazing city! I was blown away by the beauty and culture and, on top of that, I loved trying all the different food. I managed to phone my little girl every night and it truly felt like three days that I was gone! I was privileged enough to witness a few other sports, as well as getting free tickets to see some of the other sport," says Loots.
In closing, Loots says: "Rio, thank you for the most amazing memories! I will treasure that for the rest of my life."
Loots says she was one of 50 000 people worldwide to be chosen to make up part of the support team for the Rio Olympics from 151 countries. Those chosen comprised 82% Brazilians, the next biggest group was from the United States, Great Britian, Russia and then China.
The South African contingent were small, but very proud of their flag in Rio.
ARTICLE: ELAIN KING, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD EDITOR
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