"I think with most sports teams you either travel early to acclimatise and get used to the different environmental context, or you fly last minute to negate time zone changes."
In contrast, Andrea Hams (nee Miller) is adjusted to the environment, having now lived on the Gold Coast almost nine years.
The 36-year-old first came to the region as a training partner for Australia's future Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion hurdler Sally Pearson.
Hams is preparing to secure a medal in the 69kg weightlifting class after taking bronze in the 100m hurdles - a first for a New Zealand woman - at Delhi in 2010.
Her attempts to qualify for the London Olympics were thwarted by injury. As a physiotherapist, Miller knew the impact on her muscles and the time it would take to heal.
Rehabilitation saw her use the Crossfit fitness mantra because the founding pillars of flexibility, strength and ballistic power appealed as a remedy. She became hooked and that led to competitive lifting.
"I've had the privilege of watching the venues and villages go up," Hams said.
"New Zealand is home but there is the added bonus of being on familiar ground.
"The highlight is that my parents, brothers and sisters will come across to be in the stadium. That's the most important part, because they weren't able to travel to Delhi in 2010."
Hams will stay in the village from a "team culture and mental preparation perspective", which also presents a chance for a rare spell away from training, work and her Ph.D research.
