Kate+Olympics+Task+5

Week 4

Task

Create an imaginative story based around the London Olympic Games. Your story must include a New Zealand athlete, a lost piece of sporting equipment and a gold medal for New Zealand.

Publish on your wiki page.

Sport: Kayaking Lost Sporting Equipment: Paddle P.O.V: Lisa Carrington

My heart pounded into my chest as I did a final check over. My sunglasses sat in place, already starting to fog up from the heat. Sweat trickled down my back, a reminder of the pressure I was under. A medal for my country. But all they wanted was a good show, and that was what I was going to give them. I thought back to my home land, the millions of eyes glued to their t.v screens, waiting for me to do them proud. The boom of the announcer's voice was what snapped me back to reality. "10 minutes till starting!" I continue to check over my equipment, and can't help but feel somethings missing. I call over my coach, Gordan, and ask him to check for me. He looks over the equipment and becomes clearly annoyed. 'Where is your paddle?" He asked, trying to keep his cool, not wanting to make me stress. Oh my god, I thought to myself, I'm totally and utterly screwed. "I, I, I, I dont know" I replied, dumbfounded. Gordan ran straight to one of the officials. They called more over, and soon there was a rather large crowd. By the expression he was wearing on his face, I could tell he was not happy with what he heard. He came back over me, and calmed down, trying not to freak me out. "Ok so nobody has anyone touch your kayak since the officials brought it down here to the pier. Can you think of anywhere you might have left it?" "8 minutes till starting, all officials are to start checking equipment now" Come on Lisa, think! I yelled inside. "The truck! I think I remember seeing it in the truck" As Gordan raced off to the New Zealand truck, I begin to dump the stress and concentrate solely on what was a head of me. After what seemed like forever, Gordan returned with my paddle, just in time to hear the announcer "Four minutes until start! Competitors should be heading over to their lanes, and to the start line. I slowly and carefully lowered my self, and got into the right position. I wanted to be comfortable, so that nothing I could help could change the final outcome of the race. Gordan handed me my paddle and I took it gratefully. I started to paddle away leaving behind my supporters, and my stress. I started to zone into my race mode. It was only me, the water, and the finish line. I positioned myself in the prime spot, right in the middle of my lane. Now to wait. "30 seconds till starting!" The announcer boomed over the loudspeaker. Deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth. I tried to calm myself while the butterflies started to creep into my stomach. One of my pre-race rituals, I wouldn't feel comfortable without them. I stole and quick glance to my right, and saw the female competitor from Russia, and to my left the woman from Hungary. "15 seconds till starting" It was then when I began to focus on the only thing that mattered to me right now, the finish line. I was determined to be the first kayak over the line. I zoned out my surroundings, and became the person I feel most myself as. The hooter buzzed over head loud and clear. I pushed forwards, headed into a prime position, and concentrated solely on the finish line. I ignored the burn in my arms, and continued to push forward, but it wasn't enough. I needed to step it up. I pushed and I pushed, gliding through the water. I had approximately 75 metres ahead of me, and when I thought I had reached my limits, I had a sort of power surge which put me over the top. I glided over the finish line. First! I had done it! I was bringing another gold medal home for my country.