Write about someone who has trained all their life for one moment.

Posted in Character on Jun 21, 2024

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✍️ 45 stories

“Chasing the sunset” by Sneha Pandya

Submitted to Contest #256

My pit crew cheered as I walked towards my red Mustang. Sounds of engines revving up around me, made me hasten my pace. I waved as the boisterous voice over the stadium microphone, announced my arrival. “All set to go in her Red Mustang, we’ve got Gabriela Martin. She started her journey winning the Australian FIA F4 three years ago. She has been unstoppable since – F4 Champion. F2 Champion. Gabriela did not simply climb the junior single seater ladder - she charged up to knock loudly on the F1 door. We are so proud of our diva! Give a...

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“Blood Velvet” by Ursula Delgado

Submitted to Contest #256

Charlotte pulled her chocolate brown hair into a low bun. Her mother brushed a few strands off her face and smiled. "You look perfect, sweetie," she said. Charlotte scrutinized her reflection in the mirror. "I'm not sure about my dress. Isn't sage green a bit mundane? I thought I was supposed to be starting a revolution, not going to a garden party."Her mother shook her head. "Stealing the Queen's wedding gown and wearing it to her ball is a bold statement in any color. Might as well make it match the dress code.""Well, there's nothing to do...

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“Perfect on Paper” by Tennille Boyer

Submitted to Contest #256

The ugly, moldy scent slaps me in the face as I say goodbye to the crisp air outside. It is immediately suffocating. Its crooked arms wrap around my neck. It breathes down my back, sending prickles down my spine. It wants me to know that I can’t leave. The scent has become a part of me; it is wrapped up in my identity. I am its host, and I must prove that I am a worthy one. Truthfully, it’s not much different than my life outside these cement walls. The phrase “prove yourself” has played on a continuous loop in my mind since I was seven...

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“Marathon To the Finish Line” by Sharon Schoneveld

Submitted to Contest #256

Marathon to the Finish Line The finish line is near. She can feel it. Months upon months of practice - building muscle, refining her reflexes, regulating her heartbeat. She hears the crowd, cheering her on. Is it her they are encouraging or another? She can’t distinguish their words, but their energy and enthusiasm are palpable and urge her forward. There is no turning back now. She has prepared all her life for this marathon. She is aiming for under 3 hours, but knows that others have taken much lon...

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“More than Medals” by Traci Dietrich

Submitted to Contest #256

It was almost time. Her mind flashed back to the day she started her training. It wasn’t because she wanted to, it was because she had to. She was left with no choice if she ever wanted to leave that little town. And she did. With her whole heart. Even at the age of six she knew the world beyond there was calling to her. Six was when her love of running started too. She first felt the freedom one October day when a girl named Shannon from her class started chasing her home. She was no match for the strength of Shannon, but her instinct...

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“The Final Kick” by Samuel Lees

Submitted to Contest #256

The Final KickBy Samuel LeesThis is it. This was everything he had dreamt of, the moment he had trained for all of his life. If Harold Lane could score this penalty kick, England would win the European Championship, their first trophy since 1966.Harold Lane, the England captain had been a massive football fan for as long as he could remember. He lived and breathed the sport, and dreamt that one day he could lead his country to glory. For most people, this would remain a dream, but not for Harold, as he swore that he would do everything in hi...

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“Formosa: Swim” by Pei Pei Lin

Submitted to Contest #256

He dives into the water. The chill wetness invigorates him as he thrusts back up for air. He is instantly comforted by the embrace of the water, which has been hugging him since he was just a small child. He looks to the horizon, still fish-gray colored at the crack of dawn. Sitting on a boat beside him, Tamu stretches out his arms and yawns, “So how many kilometers are we going for today?” “Eight. We don't have school today.” “Good grief!” But he is smiling and starting the motor, “Let's get started!” He starts to swim along the coastline,...

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“Fifteen-Love” by Sara Wolf

Submitted to Contest #256

Claude knocked softly on the door.“Entrez.”He pushed the door open with his shoulder and placed a tray of oeufs brouilles and tea on the bedside table. His grandmother put down her reading glasses.“Merci, Alex.”Claude rolled his eyes. Mamie always mixed him up with his younger cousin and it was irritating.“You are going to ze practice?”Claude shifted the duffel bag on his shoulder. “Just a few friendly games. Dad’s taking me in five.”Mamie wagged her finger. “You should to thank him. You have a bottle water wiz you?”Yeah, yeah. Whatever. He ...

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“One of Fifty” by Pearl Dreamer

Submitted to Contest #256

This story contains depictions of pain and hurting oneself, though not for reasons stemming from self-hatred or desire to inflict harm. She breathed into her back, softening her neck to tilt her head down and dip into a light bow. Shoulders back— She could feel her pulse fluttering in her neck as she rose, lashes fluttering and eyes remaining trained on the floor. Respectful— She kept her arms carefully concealed in the long sleeves draped over her arms; palms slightly sweaty, she subtly stretched her fingers to relax the tense muscles. Ele...

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“Parcel Problem” by Ashleigh Cohan

Submitted to Contest #256

It’s time to stiff upper lip it. I’m talking stiff like no twitching, no sniffling, no nothing. I’m gonna walk right up to him and give him a piece of my mind. Him with his stupid boxers and fuzzy slippers. I can already see him walking down the steps to his house, right to the gate that looks directly across from mine, scratching his ass and sticking his hand into my mailbox. It’s like he has a superpower. He knows when I have a package coming and he manages to get there quick enough to take it from me but long enough that I always see him ...

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“Joy in Jazz” by Seth Conner

Submitted to Contest #256

Blood was starting to slip out from the skin behind my lip as I lifted my saxophone up. A bead of sweat fell off my forehead as I made eye contact with a stranger sitting in the front row, and it was as if I could see my anticipation mirrored in their eyes. The stage lights reflected in my eyes and off of the sleek, dark wooden stage that I stood on as time slowed down. I was in the zone. This was the most important moment of my life, and as such would change the course of it for good or for bad. Being one of the guest soloists in the ...

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“Sid the Stooper” by Daniel Ward

Submitted to Contest #256

Sidney Short was a guy constantly looking for the big payoff.Higher education, marriage to the girl next door, a house in the suburbs, a corporate career. All chump change.Sid knew he was destined for the best or nothing. He collected rags-to-riches anecdotes the way someone else collects baseball cards. Plenty of evidence showed that hard work wasn't the way to get the big bucks, the fame, the girl he wanted.When he was growing up, Sid’s home life was all or nothing, with nothing being the norm. His father left soon after his younger sister...

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“The Last Word Lost” by Steve Krysak

Submitted to Contest #256

Has your mind ever gone completely blank? Probably. But has your mind ever blanked onstage in front of 2,000 people? Not to mention the twelve television cameras broadcasting a live feed to another fifteen million people in three different countries.That was a fun Thursday night.I should have been the youngest person ever to win the Continental Spelling Masters. Instead, I will be a footnote on some Wikipedia page. Fourteen-year-old Myles Jasper holds the unique distinction of being the only participant in the history of this spelling bee wh...

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“The Game” by Jack Sanger - Author

Submitted to Contest #256

The Game One of the adages of Galactic history is that a founding feature of any civilisation is games playing. It has been essential to the evolution of every society in the Galaxy and will continue to be so until the last gasp of Galactic life. It was no surprise then that the once-in-a-generation event, The Game, dominated the Galactic sporting and social calendar, creating endless debate and fuelling intense rivalries. The arena for this great galactic tournament was midway down one of the two spiral arms, the densely inhabit...

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“Crunching numbers” by Michael Watkins

Submitted to Contest #256

He was an unyielding menace. A certainty that was a constant reminder of her short-comings. He taunted her at every race and was a relentless force that laughed at the best of her efforts. Now the day arrived that they would be facing off again. Outside the weather was bordering on perfection and the morning seemed to be promising nothing but greatness. She was stretching her legs under clouds that were a meditative armada in the sky. Every one of them seemed to be on Valium as they collectively drifted in a lazy river up there, chasing and ...

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Write about someone who has trained all their life for one moment.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 45 stories

“Chasing the sunset” by Sneha Pandya

“Blood Velvet” by Ursula Delgado

“Perfect on Paper” by Tennille Boyer

“Marathon To the Finish Line” by Sharon Schoneveld

“More than Medals” by Traci Dietrich

“The Final Kick” by Samuel Lees

“Formosa: Swim” by Pei Pei Lin

“Fifteen-Love” by Sara Wolf

“One of Fifty” by Pearl Dreamer

“Parcel Problem” by Ashleigh Cohan

“Joy in Jazz” by Seth Conner

“Sid the Stooper” by Daniel Ward

“The Last Word Lost” by Steve Krysak

“The Game” by Jack Sanger - Author

“Crunching numbers” by Michael Watkins

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in the stands at a major sporting event.

Write a story about an underdog, or somebody making a comeback.

Write about a moment of defeat.

Write a story about two sporting rivals having to work together.

Contest #256

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

204

Contest entries

102

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: