My swimsuit straps pull on the tops of my shoulders. I reach my hand to my back and pull on the tight fabric. It snaps back against my skin and sends tingles up my neck.

This is it. The race of a lifetime. Tokyo awaits.

My eyes feel like they might pop out of my head; my goggles are tightened to the point where there is virtually no chance of them slipping off my head.

I jump in the air, slap my calves, stretch my arms, and breathe heavily; in and out. Anything that will prepare myself for the 100 meters before me.

I look to my right.

Four swimmers jump, stretch, fidget, and breathe.

I look to my left.

Three swimmers jump, stretch, fidget, and breathe.

And breathe.

Breathe.

“Swimmers, step up.”

The crowd around me silences.

I climb onto the top of the block and press my goggles even tighter onto my face.

Dive.

50 meters fly.

Touch the wall with both hands.

Turn.

50 meters fly.

Be first.

Be fast.

Beat your time.

“Take your mark.”

. . .

‘Beep’.

In an instant, I fly into the air like a hawk taking off into the clouds.

The tips of my fingers enter the water first.

Then, my head, shoulders, upper body, and legs.

I kick like a dolphin under water; as fast as I possibly can. The kicks force me back to the surface of the water where I whip my arms down and around my body. Kick, pull, kick.

I stretch my head out like a turtle peeking around its shell to breath between every 4 strokes.

Kick, pull, kick.

The ‘T’ shape under water comes to my view and, before I know it, my two hands touch the wall. They only stay there for a half a second before rocketing back off and turning into the second half of the race.

I push off the wall underwater and kick my feet as fast as I can.

I swim as if a shark is chasing me and is right at my heels.

I swim as if someone has lit a fire in my belly; fueling me like coal does and train. Shooting straight and true in the water.

Here it is.

The final stretch.

The last 10 meters.

Don’t breathe.

Just swim.

Kick, pull, kick.

And touch.

. . .

I look around next to me. All of the other swimmers hold there breath as we all turn around to look at the giant board behind us.

I rip off my googles that might as well have been glued to my face. The bridge of my nose will surely be bruised later but I don’t care.

I just need to see if I-

My heart stops.

Second place.

I-

I did it.

Salty tears stream down my face.

Tokyo is mine.

I push myself over to the lanes next to me and hug my competitors with the little strength I have left to give.

Second place.

Not to bad.

Now, all I have to do is go even fast the next time.