English practice 33

No Place I’d Rather Be

[1]

I started taking group skating lessons when I was four. I progressed through various levels rapidly and gave my first ice performance at age winning local and regional competitions. I began seriously training when I was nine years old. Mom and I would wake up at four o’clock in the morning, six days a week. I’d skate for five hours. Then I’d go to school

[2]

Saying good-bye to my made me homesick before I deep down that I had to leave and train full-time in Canada to give my dreams a chance at reality. I went to compete in the Olympic Games in 1992. No one, not my coach or even my family, ever talked to me about In fact, I wouldn’t even allow myself to think about it. I thought my thoughts would jinx me. went with the attitude that I wanted to enjoy the Olympic spirit.

[3]

My practice sessions felt great leading up to the competition. Finally, the day arrived. I remember stepping onto the ice and thinking, I can’t do this. How am I going to keep myself from freaking out? I took a deep breath and a solid performance that placed me first going into the finals.

[4]

When medals were awarded, I found myself on the around my neck and playing. Words can’t describe the overwhelming mixture of emotions I felt.

[5]

[1] Two days later, I was the first of the final six skaters on the [2] My long 10 performance started well, but I slipped while completing one of my easiest triple jumps, and my hand touched the ice. [3] I didn’t want to make two mistakes in a row, so next I did a jump with just two spins to play it safe. [4] Usually jumps have three spins. [5] As I neared the end, I had one more jump, the triple Lutz. [6] Okay, this is it. [7] You have to do this, I told

myself. [8] I landed perfectly.

[6]

Frozen water can be so painfully hard and oh so cold—just as life can be. Ice doesn’t care who skates across its surface. It doesn’t care who loses balance and falls on slippery back. Still, when the lights go on and the crowd roars its welcome, there’s no place I’d rather be.