A Figure Skaters Dream
Location
This is the moment I've been working for my entire life.
As I perfect my makeup and wrap my hair into a tight bun I look into the mirror and smile.
I am ready.
Lacing up my skates, nice and tight.
I take a deep breath.
I make my way to the entrance of the rink ready to deliver.
I look up and see the crowd, cheering and waiting anxiously for me to take the ice.
This is my dream.
I remove my guards and take one last breather as I step onto the smooth, glassy surface that will determine my everlasting success or failure all in less than 3 minutes.
The Olympic Rink is everything I imagined and more.
And I have it, all to myself.
It's my time.
As they announce my name over the intercom the crowd goes wild.
I pause and get into position.
I hear the sweet flutey music I chose myself begin and I feel my body take over.
Crossovers, 3-turns, powerpulls, crossrolls, all move me across the ice in a passion that is impossible to explain.
As I get into the groove of my first jump, triple axel, I let the speed of my blades take me into the hardest jump of my program.
Three and a half turns executed in the air, landed flawlessly on less than a centimeter wide piece of metal attached on my feet.
As I move through rest of my program every jump landed flawlessly, spins perfectly centered, footwork fast and tight I am on fire.
As my music starts to close I can already hear the crowd cheering and chanting my name.
I finish, everything stops.
Perfection.
Bouquets of flowers drown the ice and I tears of happiness flow down my face.
I exit the ice and wait anxiously for my score.
I now feel more nervous than ever.
As my name is announced once again over the intercom to declare my scores I pray that it will be enough.
"99.00" I see appear on the screen.
The crowd goes wild.
One point away from absolute perfection, but enough for a gold medal.
I have just won an Olympic Gold Medal for the United States of America.
I have accomplished everything I have worked my entire life for.
This is my dream.