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#256: Going for Gold

We're entering into a major summer of sports. From the Euros and the Copa America, through Grand Prix and grand slams, to the Olympics and Paralympics, you can barely switch on the TV without catching something. Even those of us who aren't usually sports fans seem to be finding ourselves caught up in the fever-pitch of excitement.

And there's a reason for this: sports bring us together. Whether we're viewing for the spectacle, for tales of heroism and tragedy, or for a feeling of community, there's just something about it. This week's prompts invite you to channel the experience of athletes and fans, and to capture that atmosphere in writing. We look forward to seeing who takes gold!

This week's prompts

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

Fiction – 40 stories

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

Character – 45 stories

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

Character – 42 stories

Write about a moment of defeat.

Angst – 54 stories

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

Funny – 23 stories

Stories

“The Game” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #256

You cry to me on the phone,Everything’s gone wrong.He’s hurt you,Broken up with you.And you still don’t understand why.You experience the worst painYou’ve ever felt,A stabbing knifeStraight to your still beating heart.No one will ever love you again.No one will ever be as good to youAs he was,But no longer is.What if you never find such aGreat love,Ever again.What then?How did this happen?It’s a mystery and nightmare,Wrapped in oneThrobbing ball of pain.You miss him.He was not only your true love,But alsoYour best friend.What are you going t...

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“Henry's Fight” by Casey Morin

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #256

It was beginning to look like Henry was going to accomplish a goal he had been working towards for 30 years. And he was pissed about it. He was standing in the Crimson Dragon Pub at the center shuffleboard table during the championship round. But all he could think was that this was not how it was supposed to happen. One night 30 years ago Henry had started playing at the lone beat up old shuffleboard table at the Crimson with his old army pal Dave. Dave was about the only person that could stand any time around Henry, and even he only did t...

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“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Beverly Goldberg

Submitted to Contest #256

Sometimes when curled up with a box of Crackerjacks in front of the TV watching my Mets, memories come flooding back.I'll never forget my excitement as my father and I got off the train at a stop that was unfamiliar to me. Then a sign—Ebbets Field.Dad’s happy voice saying, “We’re almost there Brenda. Your first ballgame. And what a special night.”I knew it was special because Mom had been upset for some reason, trying to get Dad to leave me home, but he’d refused, saying, “Ida, we’ll be fine.”“Why don’t you want me to go, Mommy? You know I l...

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“Joust Jesting” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #256

“Zounds! Thou shalt taste the tip of my lance, worm!”“Not if thou dost taste the tip of mine first, cockroach!”The two knights huffed at each other through their visors, their horses copying them beneath their blinkered hoods.They turned their trusty steeds and clip-clopped back to either end of the tilt – the posh word for the separator that ran down the middle of the jousting field – there to tarry until the baroness dropped her hanky, thus setting the joust in motion.The ‘cockroach’ was Sir Gladhehad, the land’s jousting champion for the ...

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“SHADOW OF THE TITAN” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #256

In the darkness of the night, the air is thick with a solemn silence, broken only by the crackling fire at the center of our gathering. The flames dance and cast flickering shadows on the faces around me, their eyes wide with curiosity and dread. I clear my throat, my voice a gravelly whisper that draws them closer, hanging on every word. "I have trained all my life for one moment, a moment that defined everything I am and will ever be. My name is Goliath. Once, I was a giant among men, feared and revered. They spoke of me as an invincible f...

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“THE SILENT SURRENDER” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #256

The woman awoke, her eyes darting open to impenetrable darkness, a black void that offered no solace or familiarity. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she tried to move, but a sharp, searing pain shot through her wrists and ankles, immobilizing her. She realized, with growing horror, that her hands and feet were bound with spiked wire. The cruel barbs bit deeply into her flesh, sending waves of agony through her body with even the slightest movement.Naked and sprawled on the cold, hard floor, she could feel every cut, every bruise,...

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“Duck!” by John McPhee

Submitted to Contest #256

“Here comes the fastball. It’s coming right for my head! Duck! DUCK! DUCK DAMMIT! DUCK!”Jesse Brock bolted up from his sleep. His silk pyjamas were soaked clean through. He was sweating even more than usual tonight.But the nightmare was still the same. It was always the same.His head dropped to his chest as he cupped his face with his large hands and started to cry.“You’ll never be able to do this,” his inner voice told him. “NEVER! It’s over.”Jesse tried to go back to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, the baseballs were screaming to...

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“Kangaroo Court” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #256

Skipper was on his second vodka soda when Jo hopped up to the bar. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said, “They had him tried and convicted before you even showed up.” It had been a miserable day for him in court. His client was found guilty on all counts, and Skipper had to promise him they’d do better on appeal knowing full well that was unlikely if not a downright lie. It was his forty-third loss in a row. He wanted to melt like the ice in his drink. When he was a wallaby, all Skipper dreamt about was being an attorney. He’d sit in his mother’...

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“The Race” by Kay Smith

Submitted to Contest #256

I sling my spikes over my right shoulder and shuffle to the starting line for the 200-yard dash. Not even thirty minutes before this, Coach had asked me to run the event. It was not one I'd ever run and was seriously anxious about it.Suuure, Mia has 'horrible cramps.' It was more like she had the Irish Flu. My best friend, Andi, tagged along with me, giving me words of encouragement and that strangely obligatory quick smack on the ass as we got to where the other girls were. My running mates were already stretching. The sky was growing darke...

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“North Shore Boards” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #256

Kailani balanced on her Alaia wood surfboard as a Hawaiian goddess, her bronze skin flecked with the spray of salt water. A thick black braid flew behind her as she rode down the face of the wave, her fingers trailing in the crystal blue wall of water. One more day. She recited her fortune, told by her Auntie that morning , the one year anniversary of her Father’s death. ‘Your new future will land soon’. Kailani knew, deep in her heart, that tomorrow her whole life would change. “Damn, look at her fly!” Another surfer shouted as...

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“A Runner’s Story” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #256

Out of habit, I awaken every day with my running clothes laid out at the foot of my bed. I pull them on first thing before I’m fully awake. My eyes are still crusted with gunk while my body lunges through the dark, stumbling down three flights of stairs, the handrail my savior as I lurch from side to side. On the final stair I sit to pull on each shoe. The big gray door has one slender window through which I peer as I double-knot the shoelaces. And stretch against the stair railing. S-t-r-e-t-c-h. For two months of the year, the window...

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“Angels in the Midcourt” by Devon Cano

Submitted to Contest #256

‘Angels in the Midcourt’: the former stars of the Baltimore Angels on underdogs, life after sports, and what it means to be a teamBy Avery S. PierceJune 27, 2024 I have never been on a louder set than the one I am on today. I can hear them from down the hall as I approach the studio, and the laughter and chatter seem to be contagious. The camera crew and technicians are gathered in groups as they test the lighting and sound, each of them craning their necks every few moments as they attempt to catch a glimpse of one of the many legends aroun...

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“A NIGHT AT WEMBLEY” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #256

The crowd's roar at Wembley Stadium was deafening, a sea of colors waving flags from every corner of the globe. The camera zoomed in on Chip Silver, microphone in hand, emblazoned with the network’s logo. “The atmosphere here is electric!” Chip exclaimed. “Fans from around have gathered to witness history tonight. We’ve got a lineup that will keep you on the edge of your seats.” As the camera panned across the field, players warmed up, coaches strategized, and officials prepared for kickoff. Replays of spectacular goals and crucial saves fro...

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“An Affair of Olympic Proportions” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #256

An Affair of Olympic Proportions In the summer of 2012, Britain buzzed with Olympic fever. Tourists thronged the streets, eager to witness the world's top athletes. Even Nicky, usually indifferent to sports, felt a thrill as she navigated the crowded pavements. All of the UK had outdone itself; even the sun had decided to shine and cast a golden hue over much of the country. Nicky, an attractive 30-year-old woman, squeezed through the large crowds, soaking in the excitement of London, her home City, hosting such a huge event. Nic...

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“In the Moment ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #256

Hector finished the sparring round. His second touched gloves with him and left the ring. Hector leaned on the ropes. Heart pounding, his lungs ached for breath. ‘How many punches make a round?’Vinnie, his manager, approached the ring smiling like a shark. A snappy dresser, he shopped at the thrift store across from the used car lot.“Great job, kid! Keep that up, you’ll mop the floor with him. You’ll have Reese begging for mercy. This is your moment. Everything will be different after Saturday night.”Hector didn’t understand. “My moment?”His...

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$250

Prize money

204

Contest entries

102

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 28, 2024 EST

Won by Melissa Van Rensburg 🏆

Title: Injury Time

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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