When Azania Stewart played center on Notre Dame Academy's winning women's basketball team, she dreamed of someday playing in the Olympics.

When she met The Queen after playing on Great Britain's 2012 Olympic team, her frustration about not taking home a medal disappeared quickly in her boundless gratitude for all the tremendous experiences the game had afforded her.

Today, the stunningly beautiful 6'4" athlete who proudly wears her fabulous 2012 Olympic tattoo, is on her way to Australia to play for the Adelaide Lightning after two years playing for Spain and Hungary's women's professional teams.

Azania, who grew up in North London, began to play basketball when a coach recognized her potential and asked her to focus on the game.

Greig Academy in Hornsey, is a busy inner-city school where a spot on an Olympic team seldom crosses the player's minds. But 14-year-old Azania learned the game quickly and began to realize how important it could be to her future when she was named MVP at a big tournament and watched as an older teammate won a scholarship to play for a U.S. high school.

"Suddenly, I realized how big the pay off on my hard work could really be," she remembered. "I was determined to work as hard as I could."

When she learned about the Notre Dame women's basketball program from a friend, it sounded perfect. She applied and was accepted.

"I was so excited to be accepted and I was even luckier when the mother of my classmate Haley Fitzgerald, invited me to live with their family rather than drive every day from Frederick where I was living. Kim Shelly, Haley and their family have become my second family. I will always be grateful to them for their care, support and generosity."

"As Shaq knows, playing center is really a lot of fun, but if you aren't up for the work it demands, don't even think about it," she said recently while in Middleburg to visit her "second family."

Her college career at the University of Florida speaks for itself. She lettered every one of her four years with the Gators and was ranked number three in the program's all-time record book for blocked shots. She started in 84 of the Gators 123 games and finished her run with 785 points and 567 rebounds.

"Being named to Great Britain's 12-member Olympic team was astounding," Azania explained. "I was ecstatic! I love the game and it has given more to me than I could have ever imagined possible. It takes a lot of hard work, but it's worth every second. My family was so proud to be at the Olympics… they were so confident that they bought their outfits before I was named to the team!"

"I love the United States," Azania continued. "It's almost as if I'm going on holiday now when I go back to England. Notre Dame was such a great place to learn. The support systems are wonderful, and I learned a lot about life and teamwork as I learned more about basketball."

Today, as Azania looks back on her busy life to date, she knows how much she owes to basketball.

"I've traveled the world, paid for my education and made friends in many cultures. I want to play as long as the wheels don't come off and I want to make an important contribution to the Adelaide Lightning while I'm in Australia."

There is little doubt that Azania Stewart will work her heart out for the Adelaide Lightning. Just as she has for every team she's played for, whether it was for Great Britain at the Olympics or the Lady Dragons in Middleburg.