Ollie's Purpose

• Isaak Argent, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2021

“One, two, three, breathe, one, two, three breathe.” I’m in the middle of the pool. The edge of the pool is speeding closer to me like a race car.
“Yes! Second place.” In three days, I will go to Tokyo. I’m Ollie, by the way, an everyday sport lover who lives to swim. My neighbours think I am the fittest person in the world.
The day before the championships has arrived. I hop out of bed sliding on my singlet and doing my daily stretches. Upward dog, downward dog, arms, legs, burpees, then star jumps. Running out of the gate, l start to organise my breath. In, in. Out, out. Waving to the few cars driving past I feel my heart pulsate in my chest. Then it happened. The thing that changed my life...
When I awake, I am lying on the ground, people standing around me and the distant sound of sirens screeching through the air. The strange sensation of being lifted onto a bed and into an ambulance. I am sitting up with intense chest pains, being told that I have been unconscious. I enter a room and feel dreamy.
I am standing on a diving block at the Tokyo Olympics listening for the starter pistol. BANG! I dive in and start swimming. I feel the cool water flow across my face not wanting to be anywhere else. The adrenaline is pumping through my veins as the edge comes closer. As soon as I hit the edge, I feel a floating sensation and it is all gone.
I wake up, not knowing where I am. Three doctors are staring down at me. They tell me I was put in a coma for two months.
"It was a dream?" Dumbstruck, I slowly nod my head. They say that I have a serious heart defect and I won’t be able to play anymore sport. I lie frozen in devastation.
A lady with a trolley gives me a card.
“This was sent to you by the sports association.”
I mysteriously open it and read it aloud.
“Dear Ollie, We are very sorry to hear about your condition. We would like to offer you a position as head coach of junior swimming. If you would like to, please let us know ASAP. From Sports Australia.”
I look at the nurse and she glances up in thought, examining the board indicating my heart rate. She fortunately gives a nod while saying, “In a few weeks.”
I decide to take the job and start studying how to be a swimming coach. Three weeks later, I hop out of bed and head towards the doors. It feels great to walk out for the last time.
I start my new job and it is love at first sight. Pride grows inside me as I see the excitement when children beat their best times. I thought I would miss swimming myself, but my new passion is helping other people achieve their dreams.