When I touch the wall and look up at the board, I see that I came first.
First.
A gold medal.
It still doesn’t feel real. Even after all this time. I’m speechless, and I can see the cameras capturing my bemused expression and Austin’s enthusiastic reaction on the big screens around the pool.
“Let’s go, Fletch,” he screams again, and I let out a smile. The crowd’s going wild as I get out of the pool and make my way to the stands, but I’m just looking for Kath. I spot her sitting next to my dad, with one of her usual signs:PIRATE'S CODE RULE 36: SWIM FAST OR WALK THE PLANK.
I give her a kiss even as Austin runs up behind me and manoeuvres us both into some weird sort of headlock.
“I’m so proud of you.” Kath wraps me into another hug as Austin releases us. “Proud of you both.” She turns to Austin.
“I actually can’t believe I just got gold,” I tell her.
I’m not lying. I don’t think I can even remember the race. It already feels like a blur. Did I actually just win it?
“I can.” She smiles. “Another one for your collection. The second one this Games.” She grins. “Did you have fun? The crowd’s mental; it’s amazing.”
“I think it helped me,” I tell her. “I could hear them during that breaststroke.”
“And you probably swam the best breaststroke leg of your life,” Austin chips in. “Usually that’s where I start to catch you, and today I just could not keep up.”
“Silver’s pretty good,” Kath tells him, and he grins.
“Upgrade from the last two Olympics. I’m happy.”
“You got a gold yesterday,” she says. “I’d be pretty happy if I were you.”
“We have loads to celebrate.” I grin at her. “Your new job, for one.”
Kath recently managed to get an unbelievably competitive job that is half clinical medicine and half research. Seeing the joy on her face when she got the offer is still one of the highlights of my year. I’m so proud of everything she’s achieving.
“I didn’t know you got that,” Austin says. “Nice one, Kath.”
She blushes, still grinning. When I look at Dad, he’s definitely crying. I pat him on the shoulder.
“I think the media team wants you,” Dad says, and I turn to see the coaches gesturing at the media area.
“I’ll see you later,” I tell Kath. “I love you so much, and I hope you know that none of this would have been possible without you. This medal is more yours than mine.”
She wipes her eyes with her sleeve. “I love you too. Now speak to the nice reporters and go collect the medal that’s apparently mine.”
Austin starts walking around the edge of the pool with me.
“When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?” he asks.
“No comment,” I tell him and he raises his eyebrows. I’m not going to tell him about the ring I have hidden in my sock drawer. I might be looking forward to mine and Kath’s post-Olympics holiday more than my next race.
He joins me as we reach Mel at the side of the pool.
“Are you crashing my interview?” I ask him.
“Of course I am.” Austin grins. “My mate just got another medal; I’m allowed to talk about how proud of him I am.”
“I like a two for one deal,” Mel quips. “So Sam, another gold. You must be feeling pretty happy rightnow?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty happy,” I tell her. “Honestly, it was the crowd. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I could hear them the whole time and it spurred me on. The atmosphere here is incredible, and it makes such a difference.”
