Having staged an almighty fightback to claim bronze in Athens, Georgie Harland knows exactly how much effort goes into an Olympic medal.
Approaching 17 years on, Team GB's Chef de Mission for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is now overseeing the team's behind-the-scenes planning and organisation for the Games, which begin on February 4, and is also the deputy Chef de Mission for the re-arranged Tokyo Olympics this summer.
The combination has put plenty on the 42-year-old's plate – especially when added to home-schooling responsibilities – but the former modern pentathlete is relishing playing such a key role having swapped shooting and swimming for snow sports.
"Competing at the Olympic Games is the pinnacle but leading a team to one is absolutely the next best thing," Harland said.
"I am enjoying having a great team of people around me to support the delivery, getting closer to the various sports and understanding them in more detail.
"Of course, at the moment we are not able to access the country (China) and haven't been able for the last year, which has caused some challenges to our planning.
"But having had the opportunity to be 'in country' three times before the pandemic, and with the excellent people we have supporting us on the ground, we feel our planning remains on track."
Honoured to follow in the footsteps of so many great Chef de Missions for @TeamGB. Notably my predecessor Mike Hay, who leaves me with big shoes to fill. https://t.co/dr4wwVehSD
— Georgina Harland (@georginaharland) May 24, 2020
Harland has been involved with the British Olympic Association for the past decade and last year enjoyed her maiden voyage as Chef de Mission by leading Team GB's stars of the future to the Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne.
Taking on the responsibility for Beijing has seen Harland break new ground in more ways than one. In addition to becoming the first former Olympic medallist to be appointed Chef de Mission, she is also the first female in Team GB history to have taken on the position.
"I don't see that it defines me in the role," she said. "But if it provides an opportunity for people to identify with a role, with me, or with Team GB in a way they may not have done before then I feel very honoured.
"I was reserve for the Sydney Olympics (in 2000) and it's amazing to think that was the first Games where women competed in modern pentathlon.
"I look over the past 20 years and Olympic sport has taken a big step forward in terms of equality across men's and women's events, rightly so.
"Of course there is more to be done but there has been a really significant step forward."
Harland's ability to empathise with athletes once the Games are underway is likely to prove a valuable asset and few may match the rollercoaster of emotions she went through in the Greek capital in 2004.
Ranked number one in the world upon arrival in Athens, Harland sat 35th after a 'terrible' shooting round and occupied 14th spot going into the final event, the 3km cross-country.
A remarkable performance saw the world champion move into bronze medal position with 400 metres to go and seal a spot on the podium.
"There's an image of me crossing the line with my arms outstretched and it was just a massive sense of relief I had won a medal," she said.
"It was a pretty stark moment as I walked off the shooting range but I told myself 'this is what you've trained for all your life. You're not going to give this up'. The fact it was the Olympics spurred me on to sort myself out.
"It was only when I got on to the podium and saw the Union flag flying with the medal round my neck, I had the chance to think 'this is pretty special'. I will cherish that moment forever and it's very vivid in my mind today."
It wasn't just the medal which made the Athens experience special for Harland, who made the most of the opportunity to get to know athletes from around the globe across an array of sports.
Assessing how guidelines and restrictions may affect the Games' status as a unique cultural melting pot is now among Harland's vast and varied responsibilities but she is confident athletes heading to both Tokyo and Beijing will adapt successfully – just as they have had to over the past 12 months.
"There will be differences, of course," she said. "But the atmosphere we treasure so much and that 'One Team GB' ethos will remain.
"Any Olympics is an incredibly special event to be part of and there will still be those incredible moments for those who haven't been to the Games before.
"I believe it will absolutely retain what makes it so special and we can be very proud of how all our athletes have coped with the circumstances of the past year.
"The date for Beijing hasn't moved but it's important not to forget many of our athletes have had very disrupted winter seasons.
"Of those who have competed, we have seen some great results and there isn't a better placed team to unite and inspire the nation off the back of a really challenging period.
"That momentum can continue to build off the back of Tokyo and the athletes in Beijing will have their moment to show everyone back home what they can do.
"When I competed, I had no idea what went on behind the scenes. An athlete's responsibility is to make sure they are in the best shape possible, mentally and physically, to perform at the Olympic Games – and we are doing everything we can to create the best possible environment for them to do just that."
Sportsbeat 2021