Animalympics: Blaze of Glory
Chapter 5: It's My Life (Bon Jovi)
This was it. This was the day of the Womens 1000m Event. With Marina out of the running, her friendlier alternate was brought in to skate in her place: Mina Michovskaya. She looked as big as Gilda as she came up to me, "You are...Delilah, yes?" she asked as I was as taking off my hoodie. I grinned, and I nodded to the Lynx, "let us have good race?"
"Count on it," I said, lightly patting her on the upper arm with a smile, seeing her as being the opposite of Marina. I pulled up the hood of my tight-fitted suit, and I pulled down my sweatpants before putting on my skates. I see a bit of myself in Mina. This must be her first games too. I must admit that Mina does look better in her suit than Marina does.
"Marina had meltdown after race," said Mina
"Really? How bad was it?" I asked curiously
"I was roommate in her dorm, she threw fit and trashed dorm, made big mess...she hates you," Mina sighed, and turned to me with a warm grin, "now that I see you and I meet you for first time, I see no reason to hate you, Marina's wrong, you are very sweet, Delilah," she pulled the blue and white hood of her suit over her scruffy tomboyish blond hair.
"Thank you, Mina, that means a lot to me," I said as we went up to the starting line. I stretched out my arms with couple stretches with a bit of loosening up, and shook out my legs. Maybe one day I can patch this up with Marina. Mina looked to me wearing clear-lense shades over her brown eyes. I actually don't wear skating shades. I'm old-fashioned
We took our places at the starting line, and I took up my ready stance as I got a bit of grip on the ice. The gun went off, and we both skating our hardest at the start, and went into the first turn. I leaned into each turn, keeping my form just right as dad taught me. My goal isn't to beat her. I want to end the long drought, and look forward to that prize.
Going into the straightaway, I kept going faster and faster. I was nearly half a turn ahead of Mina. It felt like my inner drive was taking the wheel. I didn't look back. I just kept going into the final turn of the final lap before the finish line. I can hear the grinding steel on ice as time seemed to slow down as I crossed the line, and the cheers then erupted
I saw my time, 1:13:55. Mina came in at 1:13:57. I rested my hands on my knees, and stood up and raised my fists. It was a new Animalympic record. I gave Mina a forearm handshake and a pat on the shoulder, "Congratulations," said Mina, catching her breath. I was catching mine too as I slowed down, and got to the bench. Annie hugged me tight.
"Wow! That was amazing!" cheered Anne-Marie as I hugged her back. I couldn't hold it back as I started crying. This was the biggest moment of my life doing the sport I love. I may have just ended the Gold Medal drought for Team USA in long track speed skating. I ruffled the top of Annie's head as she looked me in the eyes, and pounced on me again.
It's Annie's race against Gilda, "C'mon, Annie"
The gun went off, and the White Pekin Duck and the Largha Seal were off. They were neck-in-neck going into each turn, and into the straightaways. It's poetry in motion, and they crossed the line with Annie finishing with a 1:14:00, and Gilda with 1:14:01. I gave Annie her hug as she may have secured a Bronze Medal, and I went to Gilda Von Ente.
"It is a drag getting old, but like you, Delilah, I've got a lot left in me," said Gilda, catching her breath. As I went to bench and put back on my hoodie, I took a swig of Gatorade Fierce 'Blue Cherry'. Another first was coming for me as I sat down, my first time interacting with the press. Coming down from the stands with a ready mic was Brenda Springer
"Hi there Brenda, nice to meet you," I greeted
"And a pleasure to meet you, Miss Featherlee," said Brenda, "so how does it feel to have a new Animalympic Record, and bringing the Gold Medal back to the USA in long track speed skating?" she asked, I peeled back my hood, and I scratched the top of my head to those questions. I know I really need to choose my next words carefully for the media.
I got it as soon as the mic was turned to me, "Well, there's no better feeling in the world, and I'm happy to that I got to end the drought for Team USA, I want to thank my mom and my dad, without them I wouldn't be here today, I worked hard to get to where I am now, but that's not the end, I'm going to keep working hard and keep pushing," I replied
"Thank you, Miss Featherlee, good luck," said Brenda
"Thank you, Brenda," I replied with a smile back to her while my heart loosened from being tightened in that short interview, 'well, that went well' I thought in approval of my first ever interview for Z.O.O. Even with this Gold Medal to my name, I won't stop and I won't quit. There's so much more I can achieve, and I'll do it doing the sport that I love.
