The Champ. My Hero.

by **Laika** Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:08 pm

The Champ. My Hero.
by ~IntoGreendarkness

It was my first day. I was so small but I bubbled with overflowing excitement. Skipping towards the track, with bobbing blonde pigtails and a big grin plastered on my face. I dashed away, jumping into any event that was going on. I didn't care, I wanted to do everything.

Then I saw it. I saw something shoot through the air and spear the ground, my heart yearned for it.

I remember feeling my fingers slipping over the immense 'spear', as I called it. A wave of joy and nerves, coursed through my veins as I pulled my arms back and threw. I remember the way it flew into the grey cloudy sky of Wales. Aim higher, more powerful. I tried and I tried but I felt like a failure when it didn't soar through the sky like the older kid's did.

Then you came over and gave me courage and confidence. You made me believe I could do it, you were right. The simple gesture of making me believe that you were making my muscle grow. That's all it took. It was silly but it worked. I threw away and watched it pilot through the air before colliding against the grass. It flew further than before. I finally did it. I smiled and let out of a giggle of triumph when you told me 'See, you could always do it'. I still smile as that memory lingers inside me.

I moved onto bigger and harder events but never gave up. Even when they looked impossible, I still tried. Even after my first defeat, I tried again and again. My heart grew on throwing. I wanted to be the best, just like you. I still do. I never gave up on my dream on being the best, even though I was defeated a lot. I remembered that I had to do this, I wanted to do this, but not just for me but for my team and everyone who believed in me.

I remember when you gave me my first award , it was such a simple thing, something that anyone could get but to get it from you, that's what made it special. A single lolly pop, that's all it was but it held value in my heart. Of course as a kid, I didn't think of treasuring it and keeping it, casing it proudly on the wall, I just plopped it in my mouth and sucked and munched away.

I remember me helping you demonstrate some of the muscle techniques. You could have used any of the other kids, most of the time you did. But when you selected me, a wall of pride burst free and danced through me. You most likely picked me because I was the smallest and maybe the lightest but I still wanted to make you proud and do it right.

Your little girl, your daughter, will be just like you. A hero. She is and will be for many people, including me. She will make you proud as she has done for many years. She'll lead us into a new generation of winners and champions, just like you did.

You passed on your wisdom to the best people in the world. They now carry on your legacy. They'll do you proud, I'm sure of it. We'll make it big, as you, 'The Champ', said ' We are the best club in Wales'. We may be small but we will make it, our hearts and spirits will always shine. We will not succumb to other clubs just because they are bigger. You taught us that. Never give up. You've made us proud of being in your family. You made me proud of being in your family.

Now here I am. No longer a little girl but a young lady. Not that many would call me a lady, maybe a 'chatter box', that sounds more familiar. Hoping to carry on your legacy. Use all that you have taught me and use it to help others, just like you did with me. Though you may not have remembered me as it was so long since I had seen you, but I will always remember you.

Your memory will always carry on.

Sleep well, Champ.

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30/11/2011.

My Athletics coach passed away. He's the one who trained me as a girl. He's the one who believed that a small little club like ours could reach the top. You know what, he's right.

I didn't want to write how sad I feel right now. I want to remember all the good times and what he has made me into today. I didn't want this to be a masterpiece. I just wanted to write something for him.

My heart is with his family and his friends. Rhondda Athletics will alway remember you, Bill.

I was looking through some old folders and found this. This was very hard time for me but I reflect on it and I don't feel sad but happy about what memories I've made.

My hero.