PEOPLE gathered at a March hotel on Saturday to watch Louise Hazel realise her dream - but the owner was nowhere to be seen.

That’s because Ann Hazel, who runs The Station Hotel, was in the stands of the Olympic Stadium, cheering her daughter on as she fought back to finish 27th in the London 2012 women’s heptathlon.

“The atmosphere was electric,” said Ann. “It was like a carnival. People were doing the Mexican Wave and it was absolutely magic.”

Proud mum Ann watched every event of the heptathlon on Friday and Saturday. She witnessed her daughter’s disaster in the high jump and the stirring comeback that followed.

“I was nervous watching,” she said. “My heart is always in my mouth when Louise competes.

“I think she was a bit disappointed with her actual position but at least she can say she’s an Olympian. I can say my daughter is an Olympian!

“The thing she really wanted to do was make sure that little girls watching at home knew that sometimes you’ve got to fight.

“Life is not always easy and if you have a disappointment you’ve got to come back strong. That’s what she did.

“She dug deep and carried on and that’s what life’s about.”

Friends and family are planning to toast Louise’s achievements when she returns to March, with an event at The Station Hotel.