The 25-year-old left for a training camp in Florida on Saturday where they had plans to acclimatise before heading for Brasil on September 3.

The day before leaving Australian shores Emily said she was feeling mixed emotions.

“I had a small set-back a couple of days ago but I’m feeling very confident and excited going into my first games,” she said.

“I feel very privileged to obviously be representing Australia and for all the time and effort that a lot of people have used to help get me to this point.

“I’m just looking forward to going along for the ride.”

Emily’s journey to the Paralympics has been a tough one, after a tragic campdrafting accident in 2011 left her a quadriplegic at 19-years-old.

Determined to make the best out of the situation she took up the para-triathlon where she bacame known as one of Australia’s toughest competitors.

However, with the para-triathlon being a relatively new event it will not be included in the Paralympic program until Tokyo, 2020.

Not to give up on her dream of competing in Rio, Emily made the tough decision to put the triathlons on hold and concentrate on the track.

Emily said she had developed a new respect for the track events after becoming a full time track athlete in April this year.

“Originally I was very much just a triathlete but something I can appreciate about athletics is the intricate detailing that it requires,” she said.

“It’s the same with triathlon, the more you invest time into it, the more you realise how much is involved in that one sport.

“Athletics is a different sport and I’ve loved getting a fresh dynamic of a different sport.”

Emily will compete in the individual 400 metres, 800 metre relay and the marathon.

The Paralympic opening ceremony will be on September 7.