by Lucia Franco
The countries were split up on the four events, with USA starting on the balance beam. Considering my nerves were already wired, I was both thankful and anxious as hell to start with this event. I'd rather have started with bars, something I had more confidence in, but maybe this was a good thing. That way I got beam out of the way and I could loosen up a little.
I wasn't supposed to compete on beam, but when my teammate fractured her back during the training camp and the alternate was chosen, the committee made a decision between the both of us. After some deliberation, they chose me to compete on beam, which meant I was competing on all four events now while she had two. My routine had the higher execution score, but hers had the difficulty.
Because of the governing rules, the Olympic coaches were not permitted to be on the floor while gymnasts competed, only their coaches were allowed. However, they could instruct from the seats. Each of us had our coach with us and we were allowed a quick warm-up with them before the competition began.
"I know you were not prepared to compete on beam, but the coaches believe in you. They believe that you also have the ability to help carry the team to gold."
I nodded as I powdered my feet then stomped on the floor.
"Look at me." I looked right into Kova’s green eyes. "Center your focus. Concentrate on your routine and know you have what it takes. I want you to take a deep breath before your connection series, and keep your chest high when you execute your jumps because those completed in a clean succession will increase your score. Keep that ankle locked in your turns."
Expelling a tight breath, I nodded. "I got it." I paused. "I can do it." I paused again. "I got this." Balancing for ninety seconds on a four-inch piece of wood. I could totally do it.
Once we took turns warming up and it was time to begin, we came to stand in a close circle. We placed our right hand out in the middle of us, and yelled "Phenomenal Four" just as the bell sounded letting us know it was time to start the first event of the Olympics.
I watched as my teammate stepped onto the podium and walked up to the balance beam with her shoulders squared back. There was something exhilarating about watching this tiny little fairy-like girl mount the beam and dominate it like a queen. She was inspiring, and she was also the front runner with the highest difficulty of the meet. The only other gymnast who was capable of executing a routine similar to hers was a girl from the Ukraine. The Ukrainians were trying to make a comeback after not winning any medals since the nineties.
I couldn't sit still, none of us could. We paced the floor and cheered on our teammate in between doing various stretches to keep our muscles warmed up. When she stuck her dismount and the crowd cheered, my heart dropped a little. Now it was my turn.
I powdered my feet again and applied more chalk to my palms and the tops of my thighs. Kova stood behind me, massaging my shoulders and arms to keep me warm. My heart was fluttering and my fingers shook. I drew in a large breath and inhaled the chalky air, coughing when I exhaled. That made my lungs burn. I swallowed, wincing because of my sore throat.
I could do this.
"Stay focused," he said, turning me to stand in front of him. "Positive thoughts. It is just like any other meet."
"Only it's not." I half joked, eyeing him.
Kova smiled halfway, but I'd caught it. "Your biggest competitor is yourself. This is you living your dream, and me living it with you."
It was only us in the arena despite the thousands of beating hearts surrounding us. Let me live with you, was something I'd never forget he said. It was woven into my soul for eternity. The happiness I felt was a seed soaking up his words and blossoming inside of my chest.
A smile slowly, contentedly, fell over my curved my lips. I knew what he was doing. I made a mental note to remind myself of what he said so I could write it in my journal. I wanted to remember it forever and explain in detail how I felt, that way when I looked back on this day many years from now, I’d get that same feeling again when I reread the words.
"You better go," he said. There was a spark in his eyes. He seemed content, and that pleased me.
Turning around, I walked over to the stairs and took a deep breath. Then I proceeded up the three steps and made my way toward the sixteen-foot piece of wood that was either going to make me or break me. Right in front of it sat four official judges wearing matching navy-blue suits and unsympathetic stares ready to critique every little thing I messed up on.
I stopped in front of the apparatus and breathed in positivity. Before I saluted the judges, I looked over my shoulder and made eye contact with Kova. He gave me a deep nod, and mouthed, "You can do it."
That was all I needed. Turning back to face the judges, I drowned out all the noise around me and let the countdown begin.
I raised one arm to salute them with a thin smile on my face. Fingers twinkling over the beige material, I mounted the beam into a straddle press handstand and swiveled my hips until my split legs were parallel to the balance beam. Clenching my stomach, my inner thighs helped center my hips as I balanced over the beam with every muscle squeezed in my body. I arched further to stand and finally took a breath. It was so easy to forget to breathe during competition. However, if I breathed even the slightest breath at the wrong time, I could easily slip up.
I sashayed across the apparatus from one end to the next, staying focused on only what I was attempting and what came next. Muscle memory kicked in and I completed turns on my toes with finesse. I completed a double back handspring full-twist like a silk ribbon floating through the air. Then the courage came and I felt confidence bloom through me.
I lowered my arms; I was almost finished. After another exhale, I gracefully stepped into a succession of jumps with turns, adding a back tuck straight into a bonus jump. My arms came down and I prepared for a standing back flip twist. I looked at my clear painted toes between the four inches of wood and tried to center my hips. If I went backwards, I could swing my arms behind me to gain the momentum I needed to flip back and twist at the same time. If I went forward, I didn't have the arm swing, and I could only hurdle so far into a front flip twist. Going in a different direction was what made it so difficult and upped the score.
My routine had me flipping forward.
Inhaling, I stepped into the barani and pushed off the balance beam into the front flip full twist. I came down and felt the leather scrape against the arch of my foot.
Eyes wide, my heart dropped.
No.
My heart sank.
I clenched my muscles and curled my toes around the four-inch piece of wood, my entire body fighting to hold on. I stiffened, pushing against the pull of gravity. If I fell off completely, I would lose one full point. If I could save it, even if a little messy, it would be a lesser deduction.
Digging deep, I pulled it together and raised my arms in the air to attempt to save it. Thank God, I thought to myself. I blinked and realigned my focus once again. I thought I saw stars for a second there.
I made my way across the beam in a series of required dance skills, then straight into a standing back pike that I landed with ease. Stepping toward the edge, I glared at the apparatus, determined to make it mine. I wasn't going to lose, not after I'd come this far.
I licked my bottom lip, then stepped into a roundoff back handspring, then into a double twisting double back. Fists pulled tight to my chest as I rotated backwards, double twisting at the same time, I spotted for the ground.
My feet landed together, my stance steady as I raised my arms and stuck my dismount. A massive smile filled my face. I held my landing for a moment longer and then turned and raised my arms to the judges to salute.
It was the longest ninety seconds of my life.
I turned around and found Kova's thrilled face immediately. I skipped over to him quickly and threw my arms around his shoulders as he caught me from the steps. He pulled me into a swift embrace then released me.
"Excellent dismount and routine."
My eyes n
arrowed. "Aside from the slip, you mean."
Kova smirked but he didn't get a chance to respond as my teammates came over to congratulate me with hugs. We were all smiles and hopeful eyes. My score went up pretty quickly and the crowd yelled with enthusiasm. I gasped and my brows shot up. A shot of electricity zipped down my spine as I stared up at the television screen with my name next to the flag.
It was my first Olympic score, and it wasn't bad.
The two other gymnasts from my team took their turns. Each time one finished, we congratulated her, praising her and lifting her spirit regardless if she needed it or not. It brought morale to our small group and helped quiet our loud thoughts. We we're panicking on the inside and going through the same thing together, we just didn't talk about it.
One gymnast from my team had more balance checks than I had, while the other had a near perfect score. Both had high scores in difficulty, which made a difference. Along with my score and after the first rotation, Team USA was currently in second place, a tenth of a point from being in third.
Thirty-Two
"Beam was just a warm-up. Now you get to show the people one of the reasons why you are here," Kova said. "The Amanar."
Vault.
I smiled proudly. I was one of the few who attempted this skill. I’d worked hard to perfect it.
"Remember," he continued, lifting one arm to demonstrate, "when you block"—he arched his chest and tapped it—"get to the front and middle of the table to gain proper flight with a vertical takeoff."
I listened closely as I put on my wrist guards then flexed my wrists and fingers. The block was going to hurt. For the most part, my elbow had healed from the dislocation. It was still tender here and there, but not all that bad. I was careful during qualifications, but I knew after this event it was going to be sore. All my power was going into my block that required straight arms and a strong pop throughout the arm. I was going to put everything I had into this block.
"Strong run, low and long, we want power when you take off."
"Got it."
I did. I had it. I imagined myself doing exactly what he said.
I was the last to take my turn for this rotation. The other athletes from my team had competed already with USA dropping to third, just a fraction of a point that separated us from second. It wasn't due to my teammates, though; they hadn't made severe mistakes. It was quite the opposite, actually, and they’d done very well. The other countries were just better in that rotation. Plain and simple.
I didn't want to let my hope slip, so I stayed blindly optimistic. My vault would be the deciding factor if we'd go up to second or stay in third. I was confident enough to carry my team to second.
I pulled back the Velcro to loosen it for a moment so my hands could breathe. I woke this morning to swollen wrists but ignored them. I could crumple when I got back to the States.
Not today, kidney disease, not today.
"Go chalk up," Kova said. "I will adjust the springboard."
"See you on the flip side."
I turned around to walk in the opposite direction but halted when I heard Kova laugh under his breath. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that he was already watching me with genuine pride in his eyes. His hands were propped on his hips and his expression radiated with content. He was looking at me.
My lips twitched. Turning back around, I walked to the end of the runway. I bounced lightly on my toes and shook out my fingers, my head bobbed from side to side. I refused to look into the stands and only kept my eyes on the vault and my coach. Bring on the tunnel vision. My fingers felt a little numb, so I retightened my brace. I swung my arms around in circles and shook my legs out. The green light was given, and I took a deep breath.
This was it.
Exhaling, I drowned out the sound again and pretended I was the only person in the room. I looked down and double checked I was standing eighty-seven feet back. I lifted my right arm to salute the judges then looked only at the vault and exhaled again. My heart was pumping so fast it was all I could hear. I had one chance to stick this dismount and only a few seconds left to complete it as perfectly as I could. I stomped my feet in the chalk once more, then tapped one pointed toe in front of me and lifted my arms in front of me.
Inhale, exhale.
Rising up on my toes, I licked my lips and swallowed. I leaned forward and drew in a lungful of air, then took off running as fast as my legs could take me. The room grew eerily quiet as I neared the apparatus, the cool air kissed over my skin.
Kova's last-minute suggestions played back in my mind. I heard his voice and applied what he said. My body moved of its own accord the moment my feet slammed into the springboard, rotating back onto the horse. Chest arched and hips flat, my legs were glued together as I blocked the hardest I possibly could manage, grunting from the impact. I took flight and reached as high as I could for maximum height and began twisting while I rotated two back layouts at the same time. After thousands of hours of practicing this skill, my body could do it on its own. I stayed tight and timed the right millisecond to open up, praying I got it right.
Core muscles tight, I opened my arms as my tiptoes touched the landing mat. Knees bent slightly for impact so I didn't hyperextend them, I stuck my landing perfectly and raised my arms in the air, holding my position to prove no hop was coming next.
The crowd exploded and a huge smile spread across my lips. I was so ecstatic that I almost started to laugh. I saluted the judges once more then turned and spotted Coach Elena in the stands behind a wall where the Olympic coaches were, right behind where Team USA was currently sitting. She was pumping her fist and shouting her happiness and showing the first smile I'd ever seen her give me.
My cheeks burned with joy as I made my way down the stairs into Kova's bear hug. He kissed my temple and said a slew of things in Russian that I assumed were praises before putting me on my feet. My teammates rushed over, squeezing hugs and cheers and clapping from all around. They were already dressed in their sweats to rotate.
Glancing over my shoulder, I turned around waiting for my score when I spotted Kova standing on his tiptoes talking to Coach Elena who was bent over the railing. She looked my way as she spoke to Kova, who nodded his head in return. He tapped the railing twice with his palm and pushed off, walking back toward me with determination. Before I could ask him anything, my score was up.
My jaw dropped in total shock. Not only was it nearly perfect, I had the highest scored vault of the competition so far. Only two tenths away from perfection. I'd take it.
I was still in shock when the girls gave me a group hug, springing on their toes. Gymnastics was an individual sport as much as it was a team sport.
Giggling, I covered my mouth with my hands and shot a glance around the room. Home flags waved though the air, faces were painted various colors, and signs raised above heads to show support for a sport that easily created so much doubt. It was my first real time looking at the beaming faces who'd traveled across the world to be here. I took it all in, appreciation invigorating my heart. I still couldn't believe I had made it to the Olympics.
Since I really wanted to compete in the all-around tomorrow, I had to compete on vault twice today. One for the team, the other to qualify for the all-around.
"Number one, Ria," Kova whispered, patting my shoulder after I executed my second vault and finished with nearly an identical score. "Get your bag and let us go to floor."
I grinned. I was first in vault by a large margin. A few steps and I was grabbing my duffle and quickly speeding up my pace. Coach Elena was hanging over the ledge and put her hand out when she saw I was coming her way. I smiled and rushed over to her, slapping her palm with a high five.
"Excellent job, well done," she said, her words stiff through her Ukrainian accent.
This was the best day of my life. I wondered if I'd ever feel anything like this again one day.
Still trying to catch my breath, I skipped over the black wires on the floor and met up w
ith my team that was now on floor. I dropped my bag, and Kova squatted next to me. He leaned over and unzipped it, rummaging through it for my sports tape. He pulled it out and I turned toward him to give him my ankle.
"How is your foot?"
I thought about his question for a minute. "It's fine. Nothing I can’t handle for a few more days."
He smiled but was looking at my foot as he taped my ankle. Once he was done, he ran his hand over the kinesis tape on my calf and Achilles. He nodded to himself, pleased. He was checking to make sure it was still on good.
"You are incredible to watch. The crowd loves you."
My cheeks blushed. I playfully rolled my eyes. "They love everyone, Kova."
"True, but they are much louder for you."
"You're just saying that."
"No. I am not. They see what I see."
My teeth dug into my bottom lip. Kova stood up, and I asked, "And what do you see?"
He studied me for a moment, then placed his hand out to help me up. His jaw flexed, my gaze fixed on his full, kissable lips.
"I will tell you tomorrow night." My brows furrowed, waiting for him to explain. "Tomorrow night, Adrianna. Now go warm up. Elena altered a tumbling pass."
Nodding, I squinted at him as I walked up the steps to the blue carpeted floor. I had questions, but I didn't want the thoughts to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day, so I shut them out and placed the questions in a drawer for tomorrow.
Each team was given a specific number of minutes to warm-up with tumbling passes. I stepped closer to the corner and looked ahead for Kova who was standing in the opposite corner ready to spot me.
He looked both ways then waved his fingers for me to come.
I turned over my first tumbling pass with Kova spotting right next to me. He halted my body with the palm of his hand so I didn't over rotate.
"Good. Delay the twist for another second and a half the next time," he said, and I nodded.
