That Sensation

• Isabelle Wright, Grade 8
• Short Story
• 2009

When the winds on your back, you’re striding out, and you’re in the lead, that feeling is like no other. It’s an indescribable feeling, something that every athlete wants to experience. It’s that sensation that makes you go faster, that gets you over the finish line in first place.

Determination is what it takes. Motivation, perseverance and confidence to make it all the way to the big stage, the Olympics. A dream every athlete has and a dream that will never leave until it has been accomplished. The reason for that ambition? For the job of a lifetime. Fame throughout the world. Success, wealth and popularity. The opportunity to experience that one sensation over and over again.

The starting gun is fired, the athlete’s jump out of their blocks and build up their pace. It’s a 400m race, said to be the toughest of all races. They’ve reached the 300m mark. The runners relax and focus on their long strides and high knees. 200m to go, they’re halfway, yet showing no signs of fatigue. Now running into a headwind, the athlete’s have to push their way through what seems like a brick wall. The last 100m. Years and years of training come down to this moment. A look of exhaustion and determination cross their faces. The crowd are getting into it now, screams coming from all over the stadium in a desperate call to get the athlete representing their country over the line first. The last dash, the last roll of the dice. Who will win? The winner of this race will be rewarded with a lifetime of fame, wealth and success. 5m from the line and Australia is a head in front… and she is victorious! A life has been changed completely in just less than 50 seconds.

Athletics is my life and my passion. My one and only ambition is to taste that incredible sensation of winning. To grab it with two hands and never let go.