This young sailor from Mossel Bay and learner at Curro Private School, attended the Games, hosted in Nanjing from 16 to 28 August, along with 54 other South African athletes competing in a variety of sport codes.
Jinniu Lake, where the sailing event took place, was a daily two hour drive from Nanjing.
Megan was the youngest of the fleet with the least sailing experience, but according to coach Rob Holden, who accompanied her and teammate Calvin Gibbs from Cape Town, she probably learnt the most, sailing against the best of the best in the world.
The competition was particularly tough, since for example only the top six girls in Europe qualified.
Another challenge was that the competitors had been sailing the BITECII for quite a while and had received intensive training.
Megan ended in 30th position, but according to Holden, she did some good racing in the very little, switchy wind, in some races finishing well.
For Megan, the experience was simply indescribable, she says.
"The opening ceremony was absolutely awesome and having formed new friendships with fellow athletes was certainly a highlight for me," Megan says.
She chuckles when she explains how careful she was regarding her diet, just in case something wouldn't agree with her.
As for being supplements, she was particularly wary of even taking vitamins, since random drug tests on athletes were at the order of the day.
"Random drug tests were done and I was simply too scared that unknowingly took something not allowed."
Megan also says that the change in climate was quite something to get used to.
"On certain days, the temperature would be in the upper 20s and then it sometimes went up to 37°C, with high humidity."
Regardless, Megan confesses that she was not even home sick, because of the experience she gained.
"I am going to start working really hard right away to secure my place in the next Olympic event," she concludes.
Megan proudly holding her South African placard during the opening
ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games, hosted in Nanjing, China.
Megan Robertson during the Youth Olympic Games, sailing on Jinnui Lake, Nanjing China.
ARTICLE: CORNELLE CARSTENS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
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