Animalympics: Blaze of Glory

Chapter 1: 'The Blue Blaze'

Some critics say that Team USA has lost it's edge. In my sport, it's dominated by the Germans and the Dutch. We even make it into the top five finishers, it's a reason to throw a parade in a hometown. I'm not like that. Sure, national pride is on the line, but that's not the reason I compete. Mine's simple. It's fun. I'm Delilah Featherlee. I'm a speedskater

I'm a New Englander, and a 'Blue Swedish' by breed. I grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on the shores of Lake Onota. From the first time I put on a pair of skates, I fell down as a duckling. When I found my footing after some practice with my dad, I found that I loved it, and I love going fast. That love translated into competing in the long track event

I'm 5'10 and between 170 and 175lbs, so I'm a big girl. I'm known for my long legs, and my big powerful thighs. So many times I have been broken whether it was my femur in two places or a broken knee-cap, I'll never ever give up. After all, what makes a winner is getting back up after getting beat down or kicked in the teeth. You got to keep pushing

I help out my mom and dad at the snack bar in town. From lobster rolls to clams and chips, it's the place to go for a bite in town. Now here I am on Animalympic Island about to compete against the very best in the world in 2022. Team USA has not won gold in my event since 1994. I'm going to help change all that, and make a few friends along the way

Leading up to this moment in my life, I've seen the posts on Twitter. I've gotten texts and calls from my family wishing me good luck, and that I've got their full support. I've got messages from the German and Dutch skaters to basically 'bring it on'. I'm not disclosing who said this, but a joker said 'look at those thighs, we'll have her plucked and roasted'

How touching. While on the island, I kept up my training on the oval track, in the weight room, and even in the pool. I was doing pull-ups with weights at my ankles when I saw one of the Dutch speedsters. It was a Greta Van De Vos. I remember watching her on TV when I was little. She has the look of a veteran in her eyes, "Wow, you are something,"

"Thanks," I replied, getting off the bar

She's a beautiful red fox, "Do me a favor?"

"Depends," I replied simply back

"I'm not backing out," I pointed out to her, and I mean it. Especially with what I've seen on Eurosport. There's the 'Russian Wolf' Marina Petrova. I've seen her skate. She's 5'9 and 175lbs of dynamite. I'm thinking she's the one that made the 'Duck Joke' on Twitter. There is also the Japanese speedster this year, Haruka Tanukino. It's going to be fierce.

"I'd be very upset if you did," said Greta

"When we get on the oval track...bring it,"

"You bet your fluffy tail I will," I replied,

"Oh that American backtalk, so refreshing," said Greta and off she went to do her workout, the competition is fierce. There's Anne-Marie Le Phoque from Canada. I've faced that seal in the North American Finals in Montreal. She's not easy. I finished in second behind her though I still made it here. I'm not the only duck in this competition. There is Gilda.

Gilda Von Ente. 'Gilda the Golden Flash'. She's a white Pekin duck around my size, and my build. I was going down to the track to practice while she was leaving. I sat down at a bench, and took off my windbreaker set showing the practice suit. Nothing fancy. Dark blue with light blue legs and forearms, "Mein Got, can you crush skulls with those thighs?"

"No, but I tell those who are mean to be nice to me, or I'll sit on them," I teased, earning a smile from my German counterpart. Gilda made a meaningful smile on her golden-yellow bill. She's another speedster I remember watching on my TV as a duckling. She has the look in her brown eyes that says she's not giving up even though she's getting old

I'm not showing off. I'm here to practice, and I just happen to have Gilda as an audience. I put on the hood, and my skates before going out on the ice. My thighs wiggled as I shook them out, and stamped them a bit on the ice to get a grip. As the inner pistol in my head went off, I pumped my arms and skated my hardest with a good start off the line

I leaned in with one skate over the other going into the turns on the oval. I skated until I was out of breath, and my ankles and arms ached. My events are the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and 3000m events. I overheard Gilda clapping slowly, but it did not feel mocking or sarcastic, "There's a real speedster in you, be sure you bring it when we meet again"

"Oh...I will sister," I replied, peeling back my hood as my short top feathers were sweaty and spiky as a hedgehog's bedhead. I made a firm forearm handshake with Gilda, and smiled to her. It's one thing to be friends. It's another to prove yourself to them. Gilda patted my upper arm, and smiled. Look out world, because here comes Delilah Featherlee.