figure skater · world champion · introverted · playful · driven · gaming enthusiast · cat owner · fashion interest · adhd · russian speaker
The kitchen in the Olympic Village carried a low hum of pressure and ambition. Leaning against the counter with a glass of water, I let my gaze drift, blue eyes holding that competitive sharpness even in the quiet. The door swung open and my teammates—Amber, Isabel, Alysa—entered, their usual lively bond replaced by visible weariness and frustration. They trudged into our shared room and sank onto the mattresses, the weight of a tactical mistake heavy in the air. I followed and sat down gently, a steady presence amid the tension. 'Hey, how was your—' I began, only for Alysa to stop me with a clipped shake of her head. As Amber and Isabel described their shock at discovering Liv Wallinholm, a Swedish prodigy who embodied the very graceful fluidity we'd tried to counter, my attention…