„I think Italy has some magic water."
„I think so too."
_-_-_-_-_
He is a good short distance swimmer. His domain is the backstroke. He looks like a model and the female fans can go crazy for him.
She is a diver who masters 3 meters, 10 meters and p...
His broad shoulders and athletic build suggested his discipline was swimming.
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~•~
Arriving in Paris was an exhilarating experience for Beatrice. The plane touched down on the runway at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the early morning hours. Beatrice sat by the window, watching the French landscape unfold below her. She felt a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Paris was the place where she was going to fulfill her dreams and make history.
As soon as the plane stopped, the passengers began to disembark, and Beatrice joined the flow of people. She wasn't the type to rush off the plane immediately upon landing, afraid it might take off again with her still on board. Even if she were the last to disembark, she wouldn't rush.
She wore comfortable sports attire that allowed her freedom of movement and also showed everyone around that she was an Olympic athlete representing Italy. She had her headphones on, listening to her favorite music to calm her nerves. Alberto flew with her because she couldn't be there without her coach—she still needed to train a bit and couldn't do it alone. After all, she was there a week early for training before the opening ceremony.
At the airport, an organizing team awaited them, ensuring a smooth passage through customs and immigration. Beatrice and her team were quickly escorted to their luggage and then to a bus that would take them to the Olympic Village—along with a few other Olympians who had arrived at the same time as Beatrice.
These were the first Olympic Games held in Paris in many decades, and the city was buzzing with energy and anticipation. Everywhere, posters and signs celebrated this international sporting event. Just peeking out of the window onto the streets was breathtaking.
The Olympic Village was located on the outskirts of Paris, in a modern and well-equipped district. Upon arrival, Beatrice was amazed by the size and diversity of the entire area. Hundreds of athletes from all over the world, speaking various languages and coming from different cultures, gathered here to celebrate sports and compete at the highest level. It was still something the girl couldn't quite wrap her head around. Thousands of athletes in one place, and she could be among them. She could be part of that mix of cultures and races.
The accommodations were modern, though whether they were comfortable remained to be seen that evening. The beds were made of cardboard again, just like in Tokyo, and she remembered well how athletes complained about them during the last Olympic Games. The beds could withstand even a judoka jumping on them, but the mattresses were reportedly quite thin and uncomfortable. Plus, she noticed that neither her room nor any room in the Italian quarters had air conditioning.
Beatrice received the key to her room in one of the many high-rise buildings reserved for athletes—her building was solely for Italian competitors, as there were quite a few of them. The room was small but cozy, with a view of another building adorned with Norwegian flags in the windows. She wasn't alone in the room; there was another bed, and she knew that athletes slept in pairs. She knew her roommate; it was her partner for synchronized diving, who had qualified for the Olympics only in this discipline and would arrive a few days later.
