Lying flat on the blue mat, staring up at the world, in her black leotard, she flashbacks through her routine. 8...10...12 steps on the balls of her feet, two feet together as they slam on the springboard, two feet flying through the air. One brain questions herself mid-air, and crashing down she comes, ramming into the horse, bouncing back and hitting her head on the springboard. Curling up, she tries to hold back the tears, the excruciating pain.

She can feel the smooth horse, the powerful springboard. She can see the vast distance between the springboard and the vault. But, she can only continue to question herself. She cannot make it over the vault. It is not a physical barrier, but a mental barrier.

It's all in the mind.

06/11/2004

Posted on 06/11/2004
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