1 year later, The Olympic Games, Tokyo, 2020
Connie P.O.V
I adjust my swimming cap and unzip my GB 2020 jacket. This is it now. Only a couple of minutes before it's show time. After making it to the finals through my heat and the semi finals, the pressure is on now as much as it's ever been.
"You've got this Connie." Jazz says as we do some stretching whilst standing. We've both made it to the finals. Adam competed yesterday and won the gold in his event, which was absolutely incredible.
"Girls, get ready. Your swimming in a few minutes." A director says as we line up backstage to the stadium.
"Good luck Connie." Thomas says as him and Andy come and hug me and Jazz. "I would love for you to bring home another gold for the country, but whatever happens, just go out and enjoy it. This is your last Olympics' and your last competition, so have fun kiddo."
"I will coach." I tell him. "Thanks for everything you've done."
There's one person who I'd love to be here with me who isn't already here. Joel. My fiancée. He's on tour at the moment, so he had to fly home again before the event. It broke my heart that he couldn't watch me compete, but I still really want to make him proud.
"And in lane 3 of the 200 meter swimming event, Jazmin Carlin of Great Britain." The speaker says, and she hugs me before running out, and I hear the cheer of the crowds behind her.
"In lane 4, is Connie Richards from Great Britain." I hear the speaker announce. As I hear my name, I walk out in my tight swimming leotard hearing the crowds cheering. I wave over at the audience and take my place next to my podium in the middle of the pool.
"Mark." The speaker bellows as I stand up on my post.
This is it. Four years of training to make the finals.
"Set." I hear as I place my hands down and acquire the correct position.
I'm competing for the country, and this may be the last race I compete in. I've just gotta do my best now.
I hear the beeping of the clackson, and I push myself into the water, where everything is silent. I propell my body through the water and when I appear above the surface, I hear the crowd again.
As one at a time, my ears go underwater, it gets silent and then louder.
I reach the end of the pool, and push myself off, meaning that's one length of the 50 meter pool done.
"And Jazmin Carlin takes the lead, about half a meter infront of team mate Connie Richards." The speaker announces as I propel myself off of the second wall.
I'm in the best shape of my life right now. When I think of Joel, and him watching on the television in his dressing room, it propels me forward even quicker.
I reach the last wall and start to swim my last 50 meters. I've trained for 13 years of my life with the same coach and I'm going for my third gold medal. I think of all the fans and everyone in the U.K. The blood rushes around my body, and my heart starts to pump fast. I can feel the adrenaline as I look over the water to see no swimmers in my sight.
I touch the final wall. I look up and take my goggles off, hearing the applause from the stadium.
"1 minute 50.23 seconds, it's an Olympic record. Connie Richards wins her third gold medal for Great Britain, her team mate Jazz Carlin following up in second winning silver and Katie Ledecky achieving a bronze medal for the U.S.A. "
The adrenaline rushes through me, and my vision goes blurry. I realise it's because I'm crying of happiness. I've done it. My last ever event I've won a gold medal.
"Oh well done Jazz!" I say as we lean over the foam lane dividers and she hugs me.
"Well done Con, you won gold!" She says as it takes me a while to comprehend what she's saying. I only just hear her over the crowds as I give Katie a hug too, who's in lane 5.
I get out the pool and I'm given a towel by one of the directors. Immediately Ben rushes out from the stand and picks me up and spins me around.
"Congratulations!" He says as he hugs me again. "You did it oh my god! You won!" He says as we both jump up and cheer.
"Thank you for everything Thomas. I wouldn't have done it without you." I tell him. Being 27 years old now, the next time I will be able to compete is when I'm 31. I would have retired by then anyway. So this is my last olympics, and if I'm retiring then that means that I don't need a coach any more.
I'm taken over to be interviewed with Jazz. It's surreal really.
"So Connie. 3 gold medals on the trot in the 200m women's freestyle event. How does that feel?" She asks.
"It doesn't feel real at all. I mean, I'm just speechless. To see that all the training, every day for 10 hours for four years, it was such hard work but it's all worth it." I say.
"So is this your last Olympics?" The presenter asks me.
"I would think so. It's really hard to admit because over the years I've had so much fun. First competing at 19 was so surreal and amazing, so coming all this way is gonna be so hard. But people like Jazz, she's still got 2 or 3 Olympic Games in front of her and I wouldn't take the gold next year if I competed. She's incredible and so is everyone else competing here today." I say as she moves onto Jazz.
After saying how proud and happy she is, the presenter asks about me and how competing makes her feel.
"To do this is one hell of an achievement. And to compete by Connie's side is unbelievable. Like, I remember seeing Connie in 2012 in London and winning a gold at such a young age, I always looked up to her as a role model when started training and competing together. To say goodbye to my best friend and having to compete by myself now is gonna be so hard. But for her to go out with a world record and Olympic record, I'm so proud of her."
"Ok well I better let you girls get off for the medal ceremony. We will be talking to the girls again later, but for now it's over to Chris outside the stadium." She announces as we are let away.
The ceremony starts shortly after and Katie and Jazz are called up onto the podium.
"In first place, Connie Richards of Great Britain." The speaker bellows and I stand up on the podium, wearing my Great Britain jacket proudly.
The medal is placed over my head and I look down at it and over the crowds of the stadium. This has been a dream ever since I was a little girl, and to achieve another medal is crazy.
I stare at the flag of Great Britain as it's revealed whilst the national anthem is played. I'm so proud of the whole team and every single person here is so talented in their own ways. I don't think I deserve to be here really.
As the national anthem stops playing, everyone starts to applaud as we stand on our podium and hug each other, admiring our medals.
"And an announcement before he ceremony ends." The speaker announces as we just look at each other in confusion.
"Here to congratulate Connie Richards on her medal, her fiancée, Joel Dommett." It says as I catch a breath in my throat and scan over the audience quickly.
I see him walking towards me down the side of the pool, his hair styled accompanied by a massive grin with a bouquet of roses in his hand. He's wearing the jacket he wore to the after party of the jungle back in 2016.
I cover my mouth as my jaws dropped to the floor. I feel a tear of joy flow down my face. He runs over and lifts me off of the podium, swinging me round and kissing me as the rest of the stadium clap and cheer for joy.
"Oh my god, you made it." I say into his chest. "Wait, what about your gig?"
"It was cancelled. You did amazing baby girl. Congratulations! I'm so proud of you." He says as he kisses my lips again. "I love you Connie."
"I love you too babe." I tell him. "Forever and always."
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