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Debbie Knox - Curler and Olympic Gold Medalist
Deputy Skip in the Curling team which won Gold in 2002, Debbie was a Brownie in Fife."Give everything a go, even if it's not 'cool'. Don't get older and wish you had done things you had the chance to do."
Scotland and being Scottish...
I like being Scottish as I feel the people here have a strong sense of pride and belief in their country. I have travelled to many countries with Curling and people are always interested when you say you come from Scotland, especially Canadians.
I was never very good at history when I was at school but I do remember doing a project on Mary Queen of Scots (I actually still have it!) and I found her life very interesting, so I think that I would like to meet her and find out if the historical facts that I read about are totally true.
I started Curling when I was 13. My Mum and Dad played
and my brother and I used to spend loads of weekends
in ice rinks - I hated Curling, it took ages and spoiled
my weekends but then my Mum took me to a junior club
and as soon as I tried it I loved it.
It's funny because I never told many people that I played
Curling as it was seen as an old persons sport and now
I'm shouting it from the rooftops!!
If you want to try Curling and you live fairly close to an ice rink ask your parents or relatives to take you along. There are a lot of ice rinks that have after school junior clubs so find out the phone number and ask. Some schools may also be involved and your active schools coordinator may also be able to help.
I joined the Brownies in 1974 (I feel ancient) so my uniform was a brown one piece dress with my yellow tie. I think that the uniforms now are great - much more practical. My favourite badge was for housework/tidying (not sure exactly what it was called) and I still love tidying up now!
The values I learned from Guiding was learning to be part of a team and interact with other people, I also made some really good pals.
My advice to young women today is to give everything a go - even if you don't think that it's 'cool'. Don't get older and wish you had done something that you had the chance to do.
When we were preparing for the Olympics it was very
hard being with a team of four women - we practically
lived in each other pockets for about nine months. We
got to know each other very well and became very good
friends.
Being good friends helped us get through any
rough patches that we had and everyone learnt when any
one of us needed our own space. I think that there are
more advantages than challenges.
If I won a million pounds and had to give it to a charity I would choose Leukemia/Cancer Research as my friend died of Leukemia when we were thirteen.
Two things that I would save from a fire, apart from people and animals would be my Olympic Gold Medal and my mobile phone.
To find out more about Debbie please see Royal Caledonian Curling Club
Go to main inspirational women page