I woke up the next morning feeling ready to go, it was the first day of all-arounds and I felt like it was going to be a good one. I got out of bed and threw on a hoodie and some beats and headed downstairs to get some breakfast. I ate my usual banana and bowl of cinnamon oatmeal before heading back upstairs to get ready. I saw quite a few people while I was down there, including Tom, but like always I kept my distance. Like always my pre competition rituals begun, and I started getting ready by putting my hair in a tight bun, Put it in with my lucky hair tie, then secured it with a white scrunchy to match my leotard for the day. I decided to go with a gorgeous diamond encrusted white leo
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I put my warmups on and started doing my makeup, I found it crazy how this year we had to put on a semi-face full of makeup, but thankfully I knew how to do it well. Once I finished getting ready I headed out to meet the rest of the girls at the GB room. When I opened the door I found a note on the ground addressed to me, I opened it and it read:
Mattie,
Even though we agree to give each other space on your competition days I couldn't help but feel compelled to write you a little good luck note, I have complete faith in you to go out there and win it all on day 1, but just remember that no matter what occurs today in that arena, I have never felt more proud of somebody in my entire life, I'm so grateful to know such an amazing athlete, and girl. You are the best there is Madison Leigh Rodgers, don't ever forget that. I love you.
~Thomas
I couldn't help but have the biggest smile on my face and wonder how I got so lucky. Although it was sweet I had to stay focused on today. I walked up to the arena and made my way through the crowds. Today was odd because we weren't being forced to walk as a team, it was like I was completely on my own. Once I reached the room I was greeted by the girls not competing today and lastly by Aly. It always felt so weird having to go against a team mate, but I was confident that her and I were going to be taking home the silver and the gold today no matter the order of who got what, I knew they were ours. I put my things down and began to stretch and warm myself up. Moments later my father came in and gave me our normal pre comp pep talk, before he made his way inside the arena. Once I was done I approached Aly to have our usual talk before having to compete against each other, we made sure that no matter who got what today we wouldn't let it get in between us and our friendship.
"FIVE MINUTES!!" our coach yelled
My stomach dropped, I don't think i've ever felt this nervous before when it came to a competition. I paced back and fourth with a Beyoncé song blaring into my Beats. I packed up my things, hugged my teammates and then stood in front of Aly and began walking with her and our coach towards the arena doors. Just like the other days there were thousands of people in a path to cheer for us as we made our way, and an even larger amount of people bursting into loud chants as we walked through those doors. Aly and I immediately set our things down and took off our warmups, we stood up on the raised floor to be introduced, when my name was called I stepped forward and waved to the entire crowd, I hugged Aly one last time and we went our separate ways.
My first apparatus of the day was my least favorite. The uneven bars. Thankfully I got to get it out of the way early though. I took a deep breath then walked up to the platform. I began my routine and in the middle I had to take one extra swing because of a slight error, which isn't too big of a deduction but it could definitely hurt me, I tried not to think about it too hard the rest of my routine and ended up landing my dismount perfectly.
I finished out the day in second place behind Aly by .444 which isn't a huge gap whatsoever, all I have to do the day after tomorrow is come back and make sure that all my skills on the uneven bars are flawless. I grabbed my things and headed out of the arena to meet up with my dad and Tom. My dad had told me earlier they both planned a surprise for me tonight that required "looking like a girl" so I was really excited to go find out just what that surprise was.
