14.2
I have some ground to make up, but bars are next, and this is where I should pop up past Jaime and Sierra. That is, if I hit. Nothing is guaranteed in gymnastics, not even on your strongest apparatus.
Jim the broadcaster’s voice cuts through the air as we march to bars. “Our first competitor will be Chelsea Cameron, who has significantly deteriorated on this event since her run to the all-around gold four years ago.”
“They were never really her strength before,” Cindy interjects.
“Nothing like a confidence boost before going up there,” Chelsea says as we all gather around the chalk and work it into our grips while Janet adjusts the bars for us to our specifications.
“Chelsea Cameron, Olympic champion, rattled by two dumb reporters? I doubt it,” Dani says. Chelsea gives her a smile before they bump chalk-covered fists.
I don’t think she was rattled, not really, but her bars are never great, and this time is no exception. A fall, a massive break in form on her transition from the high bar down to the low, and then at least three extra empty swings during the routine to get herself back on track.
Dani draws Chelsea into a hug once she makes her way back to us, and I wait my turn before hugging her tight. It’s one thing to understand intellectually that you aren’t the gymnast you once were. I can personally attest to that. It’s another thing for your performance to show it.
The scorecard flips up—a 12.5—and I cringe. It’s not unfair, but it is awful.
“Vault and floor. You’ll make it up there,” Dani whispers to her before heading up to bars herself.
Her bars routine is super solid. It’s one of the major reasons she’s been able to close the gap between her and Emma in the last year. She’s so strong, being able to tune out everything that went down before the competition started. I tighten my grips and swing my arms around as she dismounts.
“Nice!” I say.
“Get it,” she replies before Chelsea pulls her into a hug.
“That was amazing,” Chelsea squeals to her roommate, and the judges agree, posting a 14.8.
Her roommate. That word triggers something inside my head. Dani has a roommate now. Not like last year at worlds, when Gibby made her room by herself. I can’t even imagine what that must feel like, sitting in a room alone, knowing there would be no one to stop him, knowing that if you say anything, it could cost you your lifelong dreams. My stomach lurches, and I can actually feel bile burning up my throat at the thought.
No, not now, Audrey. Focus on what you have to do.
“And that’s a great routine from Emma Sadowsky!” Jim’s voice pulls me out of my head, and I’m grateful for it. If Emma’s done on bars, it means I zoned out for Jaime’s routine. While I have no idea how she did, I need to prepare for my own set. If I’m going to have any chance at all, I need to hit the crap out of bars and take a lead on Jaime that she can’t overcome on beam and floor.
A quick look at the scoreboard tells me Jaime’s routine was decent, and then Emma’s 14.6 slides into place and propels her into the overall lead.
Now Sierra’s up, and she’s my main competition here. She might be a total bitch, but she’s a total bitch who can swing bars.
“And that’s a nice transition between low and high, legs glued together and toes pointed, and now into her dismount, a full-in, and a step on the landing,” Jim says from the booth.
It was a good routine. A very good routine. I’m going to have to step it up. I need to separate myself here.
I’m saved from having to clap politely for her routine because I’m prepping the bars for my own, but I glance out of the corner of my eye and see a 15.0 on the scorecard. Damn it, I wanted to be the only one who hit fifteen on bars today, but I guess I’ll have to settle for being the top worker.
I smile before turning to the judges and saluting. I hope they’re watching closely, because I’m about to own this routine.
Thirty seconds later, after sticking my triple twisting layout to finish, it takes everything in me not to actually scream in celebration when I raise my hands in salute.
That’s why I love this sport: the feeling of my toes digging into the mats and my arms up in the air after I dare the judges to find one mistake in that routine. I mean, they will, but I made it a lot harder than usual.
Jim says it better than I ever could as I pass the booth, undoing my grips as I go. “That was one of the best bars routines you willeversee from Audrey Lee! Incredible form in the air, full extension, pointed toes, and she just flies on her transitions and release moves. A lot of people counted her out when she couldn’t compete at worlds last year, but she’s worked her way into top form, and look at those standings, Cindy!”
“Audrey Lee rates a 15.3 on uneven bars, and while Dani Olivero has a one-tenth lead on the field, we have a three-way tie for second place halfway through this competition!”
