Are you ready to don your writing helmet and go for the tackle?
Great!
Here is your first assignment: In 50 words or less (yes, only 50! And you thought getting that Challenge entry down to 750 words was tough!) write a complete story about the following scenario:
You are an Olympian competing for the Gold in your final event.
Write your story in the comments. Make it funny, dramatic, horrific, or just plain quirky. But most of all, have fun with it. There will be no prizes awarded, just an opportunity to stretch yourself (or should I say compact yourself) as a writer and make every word count.
Ready…set…GO!
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28 Comments until now.
It’s my last mogul. If I beat Yuri’s time, I win gold. There’s the starting pistol. Here I go. Lord, give me strength… I do this for Your glory. My heart is pounding… I can’t hear the crowd… I beat Yuri’s time by point one! Lord, this gold’s for you.
Nicely done, Lisa!
“KWTA here, Lindsay, you won the Gold! Your skating was magical and flawless! What was your secret to this one of a kind performance?” “When I imagined the ice rink to be a street in the New City of the New Heaven made of transparent gold, all anxiety left me.
“Flawless. Ignore the crowd, just move with the music. Okay, timing must be perfect, leap! Oomph, smooth landing, that worked! So far no mistakes, can I keep it up? I love this part of the routine, ah, so does the crowd! They loved it, I think I did it!”
Nerves. I hate nerves. But if they aren’t there, then something’s wrong. But they’re here. I’m good. I can do this. I will do this. Peace. Calm. Tranquility. It’s just a triple salchow. I do this in my sleep. Focus. Calm. A bubble. Breathe. Listen. Smile. For His glory…
All the years of silence
when I ran alone on weary feet, training with the gold in mind,
folds into this one moment as I lean into the starting block. The boisterous ,cheering fans and I, now diving into the glory of this day. I can only think of winning.
“I hope they fall, trip or make a mistake. Please God, just let them have a crash. I need this more than they do. Arrrr… OK, there’s my cue… My note. Here I go. Biggest smile…Oh, XXXXXXX! Oh NO!… Utterly ruined…My…pride…”
This moguls run is for the donor family.
Ready, steady, go!
Swish, swish, swish.
Air, twist, steady now.
Focus.
Swish, swish, swish.
Air, flip, steady now.
Focus.
Swish, swish, swish.
Finish line.
Gold!
Joy, joy, joy.
“We” did it!
Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think … “This is awesome!”
Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think … “My cheeks are freezing!”
Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think … “I must be doing ninety!”
Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think “I nailed it!”
Please, please,
please, please, please … “Yes!”
I stood on the ice, hands shaking. I needed a nearly perfect score to achieve my goal.With a deep breath I sent up a final prayer..”Guide my feet Lord, Let me win the Gold.”
“You are my treasure” he replied. “You are the gold.”
I’ve already won!
Years of training, months of lost sleep.
It doesn’t matter.
Pain of injuries, thousands in cost.
It doesn’t matter.
The roaring crowd, shouts of family.
It doesn’t matter.
Nothing matters. Nothing but the next thirty seconds of downhill flight. That alone stands between me and Olympic Gold.
And that matters.
And this is my mom’s!
“By the dawns early light”, would I remember the words, place my hand over my heart?
Was I that confident? Not!
My mind was trying to divert me from the stress I had placed on it.
Count down has started. I’m off!
Lord only knows where I’ll land or stand.
Lynda Kay
Fatigue cemented my body’s will;
Energy exhausted any earlier thrill.
Training and focus and endurance joined me;
With those friends, I could see, the winner I could be.
The finish arriving, normal returning, people cheering;
I won the gold, this story I’ve told, but it’s God who is deserving.
The silver was great, but that was 4 years ago. This is it. My last effort, retirement is inevitable.
Breathe, relax, focus. I can do this, pause. My semi time was the fastest, I am the best. Knees, one more race, just give me this one last chance. 5,4,3,2,1…Go!
Well done everyone!! I enjoyed reading all of the entires.
entries that is. lol
GREAT stories! Thanks to all who have participated so far!
I was on the top step of the podium. Gold! How long I worked and prayed for it. Now I stood with apprehension, fearing I’d fall when I bent to receive my medal. God graced me with ability to be here so I thanked him with a smile on my face.
I stretched, practiced my breathing. Gold was in my vision. The whistle blew. The fifty-yard dash—MINE, I knew! My feet carried me like the champion we know I am. Wind in my face, hair whipped about behind. The ribbon, scurried closer. I tripped, knocking my opponent across the line.
It was that close, you see.
Ok ok so I am late…. Here.
__________
The course, brutal, flags sway, wind roaring. Dip, turn, skipping over the powdery surface. Flags disappear, only trees and blowing snow. Bump, twist, then darkness.
A warm room, his coach, a relieved look. “Another fifty meters..”
“Not bad for a one legged man,” slapping the stump of his left knee.
Holy Spirit
Patience
Knowledge
The Olympic! He made it! He had trained a lifetime for this. It had become an obsession to win. What would he do if he didn’t. This would be proof of his worth. It would define who he was, a skater. Gold in hand: a winner lost.
I take a deep breath, walk to the edge, look down.
Wow that’s a long way, but I’m ready.
I dive in beautifully. The crowd roars.
Wait, why didn’t anyone tell me swimming is part of the summer Olympics?
No wonder I was the only one in a swimsuit!
At cue, I execute my triple lutz jump, vaulting skyward. Beautiful! With grace and form, I reconnect with the icy stage on a single blade. Oh, the powerful climax of a calculated stop. Rhythm spent, applause erupts.
My intimate love and I, now subject to the counsel of many.
My fingers and nose are numb from the cold, but my body feels flushed from adrenalin racing through it. The crowd roars as I ski to the starting line. All the publicity and hype have exagerated my talent and style. So, I can’t let them down. I pray.
How did I get here?! Oh dear, too late for that now – nowhere to hide! It feels like a dream – but, I’m here, must start – must finish. Must run the race, oh my goodness, no – long jump?! This is no dream – wake me up God, it’s a nightmare!!
I stood silently on the ice waiting for my music to start. I knew one mistake would destroy my chances for gold. The glory, the achievement, the satisfaction would allude me. I sprang, I glided, I jumped into eternity. The crowd roared and I exploded with joy. Oh God – hallelujah!