Having achieved her goal of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games, Niue flagbearer Pauline Rex Blumsky says everything from here on in is a bonus.
Pauline Rex Blumsky Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Vinnie Wylie
The cafe and bar owner took up lawn bowls prior to the 2015 Pacific Games, where she won a silver medal in the women's triples.
Along with her husband, the former New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue, Mark Blumsky, the competitive duo set themselves a new target of making it to the Gold Coast.
"So we both enjoy the sport, we played socially and we thought, "ok, we can be pretty good at this," so we both made the team so that's even better...He's great support and he's always pushing me a bit further than I can do myself so yeah it's just wonderful."
Blumsky was no match for two experienced veterans in her opening singles matches at Broadbeach yesterday, outclassed 21-9 against Fiji's Litia Tikoisuva and 21-11 by New Zealand's Jo Edwards.
"Today has been an awesome experience to play against the world's greats like Jo Edwards from New Zealand. She's been bowling for how many years and just to play against her was an experience in itself and it was great. Fiji was a tough competitor as well but just taking my time I suppose and just trying to do the best that I can."
It was a tough day all-round for Niue with the men's pairs, men's triples and women's fours also failing to register a win.
Pauline Rex Blumsky and the men's triples will have an early chance to reverse that trend today against New Zealand and Malaysia.