The ThinkQuest 99 Internet Challenge has been an incredible experience for all of us. The gold award in the “Sports and Health” Category of the Contest will remain a particularly important token of recognition for all the members of the team.

The creation of our entry has been an exciting process since its very beginning back in February 99. The first, and probably the most important, step was to form the team. We were studying at the same school at that time and it was not long before we became inspired by the idea of participating in an international competition and becoming part of the youth that make a difference in the world. After the initial brainstorming of possible topics, we discussed each of them and eventually selected diving as the most appropriate one. The reasons were various – not only were we seeking a fresh and exciting subject, but also we all shared the passion for this challenging activity. Immediately afterwards, we began working on the project. Each of us made a contribution to a particular part of the entry. We carried out extensive research on the topic, spending hours of our free time examining various sources of information – starting from books at the library through articles in newspapers and magazines, and, inevitably, web sites on the Internet. This project, however, would not have been possible without the constant guidance and support that we received from our coaches. They directed us through the whole process of creating the entry. Not only did they share and discuss with us their vision of the project, but also they provided valuable resources and referred us to individuals and organizations.

The months of research and preparation were definitely not the easiest ones we had had, especially bearing in mind the fact that some of us had to sit for important university exams that none could afford to fail. In addition to that, it was even more difficult to co-ordinate the work within the team during the breaks, when either our coaches or we were away. Nevertheless, we all managed to meet on a regular basis and gradually develop the Web site. 

Teamwork taught us important lessons that will help us further in life, that is – how to collaborate with one another, how to divide responsibilities and how to work together as a team. We learned three basic features – to be responsible and not to give up at most difficult moments; to be tolerant, to listen to other people’s words and consider their opinions and ideas; and to better organize our time so that the work on the project would not interfere with our studies and other activities.

A comparatively calm period of time followed the deadline of the Competition. This, however, was the opportunity to promote our site on the Internet by registering it with the major search engines and telling our friends about it. This was also a time of tension and anxiety until the semi-finalists were announced officially. It was hard to believe at that time that we were on the list. A few more weeks of tension and impatience and we would be among the finalists at the ThinkQuest 99 Internet Challenge!!!

We had made it to the finals and would shortly be flying to Los Angeles, California to attend the ThinkQuest 99 Awards Event.

There we were in sunny California at the end of November! The judges were very nice and friendly people. We had the opportunity to make a presentation of our entry and talk about how we collaborated to compile the information and design the Web site. Other than that, we made a lot of friends and established lifelong contacts with people from different areas of the world. The ThinkQuest organization took care of preparing a neat schedule for all the finalists which included wonderful tours in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios, Sunset Boulevard and special events at the “Hilton” such as the Carnival Night, the International Food Festival and a Group Activity with Einstein. The judging weekend culminated on November 22, with a glamorous gala ceremony where leaders in the fields of education, science, technology, and government announced the contest winners. Adding to the excitement, the ceremony featured celebrities including Academy Award Winner Marlee Matlin, Olympic Gold medalist Kerri Strug, Bill Nye the Science Guy and LeVar Burton. On the last evening of our stay, we were invited to a gorgeous Awards Banquet. Brilliant disco lights and MTV-hits selection created a cheerful and entertaining atmosphere at the dance hall. We looked around us – Germans, Egyptians, South-Africans, Australians, Swiss, French, Japanese, Russians, Americans, Indians, Jamaican and others from 70 more nations were dancing and laughing together! Such a beautiful and unforgettable moment!

Our ThinkQuest experience in Los Angeles has left a deep mark in our minds. We were particularly honored to receive the Gold Award as recognition of our achievements. By all means, the ThinkQuest Internet Challenge will remain a memorable event, which we will always be proud of.