|
封面
部分内容
At the 2002 Winter Olympics
Introduction
FEBRUARY 2002
I WALK INTO THE LOCKER ROOM, THE LAST IN MY group of six skaters to come in. The other girls are already changing, touching up their makeup, and nervously getting ready to take the ice for the first time at the Olympics in Salt Lake City. I’ve been warming up until the last minute, trying to keep my muscles warm and ready for the most important short program of my career so far.
Everyone is nervous, keeping to themselves. I open my skate bag, take out my tights, dress, and skates, and start getting read y. A skater who’s just finished her program comes in, carrying stuffed animals and flowers and looking relieved. We gaze at her with envy. The worst part is the waiting.
An Olympic official sticks her head in the door and says, “We need you in five minutes!
Do you need anything? Are you ready?”
I quickly adjust my dress, touch up my lip gloss, and I’m ready to go, but I still have to wait. I walk to the backstage area and nervously pace behind the blue curtain, keeping warm as I hear the last skater’s program music come to an end. All six of us are by the barrier now, anxious for the skater’s marks to be announced so we can step onto the ice.
I’ve been to this arena before for practice sessions. But today is completely different. There’s not a space that’s not filled with people. Coaches, cameramen, commentators, judges, fans. The Olympic rings, painted everywhere, are huge. There’s tons of noise—practice is always quiet, and this is the exact opposite. The whole world is here.
Finally they announce our warm-up group. The six of us rush forward, trying to be the first onto the ice. I talk myself through my routine as a burst of applause comes from the audience. I start to feel better, more in control. They clap for us, and especially for me, the only American in the group—the fans in Salt Lake City are incredibly supportive of all the athletes on the U.S. team.
I take my usual approach, methodically talking myself through everything: okay, just breathe, step, spin, crossover, keep going, warm up this jump, this landing, hold, balance. I’m trying not to overwhelm myself. It’s so easy to slip into, Oh my God, look at all these people. Oh my God, I’m at the Olympics! But I keep my mind on what I’m doing; I keep breathing.
With about a minute left, I’ve warmed up all my elements. I slowly skate around the rink, resting and calming my nerves. I’ll be the first skater in the warm-up group to perform.
I keep my legs going, then stop at the boards near my coach. After retying my skates and adjusting my dress, I have one last talk with my coach, John Nicks.
This is his tenth trip to the Games, so I’m ready for some magical Olympic knowledge. Mr. Nicks is the calmest person in the world. I may be jittery, but, as always, he is ready and reassuring. He smiles, takes my hands, and just says, “Good luck, dear.”
Thirty seconds later, a booming voice from the loudspeaker announces, “From the United States of America, Sasha Cohen!”
I feel a big rush inside me when they call my name. The audience applauds as I skate to the center of the ice.
As the applause fades, I tell myself, Okay, this is it. You’re at the Olympics. This is your chance—take it!
I stop and hit my opening position and think, You can do this.
And then I take a deep breath, and the music begins.
9.99美元. 对我来说很贵啊.小关的是4.99美元. |
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
抢沙发
千斤顶
显身卡
楼主
