HANNAH Snellgrove wrote in her diary 18 years ago that she would go to the Olympics one day.

She now heads to her first Games to represent Team GB in the women's dinghy class sailing the ILCA 6, but much like the waves in Marseille, Snellgrove’s journey has had its fair share of ups and downs.

While her journey to Paris 2024 might have been unconventional, she is ready to seize her special moment in Marseille and fulfil her childhood dream.

“It’s the biggest honour to be representing Team GB,” the 34-year-old said. “I love the Olympics and to be there is a real dream come true moment.

“It’s the culmination of such a long journey for me - it’s been 26 years since I first stepped foot in a boat and about 15 years since I started taking it seriously.

“I wrote in a diary when I was 15 that I was going to go to the Olympics one day. It’s taken me about 10 years longer than originally planned but we made it eventually!

“There have been quite a lot of bumps in the road, twists and turns, ups and downs along the way.

“I joke that I've taken the scenic route, but that’s made the destination so much sweeter.”

These twists and turns include being dropped from funding over 10 years ago, crowdfunding for a new boat and enduring her fair share of injuries before being re-selected in 2018.

But she knew she wanted to keep going, having loved the sport from a young age.

“I stepped foot in a sailing dinghy on the Isles of Scilly when I was seven or eight on a family holiday,” she added. “It felt like ‘Swallows and Amazons’ vibe. I just loved being out on the water.

“When sailing came up as an option at school, it was great. I could go sailing instead of doing all the sports I was terrible at in PE.

“What started as a skive from PE at school has got really out of hand!”

Despite Snellgrove’s parents not being involved in sailing, they have been instrumental in her career with their support.

She has 26 friends coming out to Marseille to watch her sail, and her parents will be cheering her on back home in Lymington as her father is unable to travel due to his Parkinson’s.

“My parents are very supportive,” she added. “They’ve had to learn a little along the way, but they know their port and starboard now!

“The best advice I ever had was from my mum - she said, ‘make sure you eat your sandwiches and mind your head’ and that is still valid now.

“Lymington Town Sailing Club, my home club, are putting on some watch parties and my parents will have a base camp for friends and family watching back home.

“My mum has got about 30 metres of Team GB bunting. She’s taken it all the way - her planting scheme for her hanging baskets are red, white, and blue.”

Follow the British Sailing Team on Instagram at @britishsailing