Mine For The Taking (Danny Jones)

Chapter 1

This is it. My last ever training session before the European squad trials on Saturday. Today is Thursday and I'll be spending the night relaxing, and packing my many tracksuits and judo kits ready to drive to Walsall, England tomorrow.

My name is Sophie. I'm 23 years old and a full time athlete with the british judo association. After respective finishes in IJF Grand Prix events and with a current ranking of 18th in the world all I need is a decent result in the 2015 European championships to secure a place at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

My body is shaking! I don't know how much more of this I can take, I've been sprinting, squatting and working my ass off for the last hour and a half. Ten minutes and I can go home. Thank god! I step up for my last station on my last circuit... Shuttle runs... Oh joy!

"Ready.... Go!" Screams Neil Adams, my coach. Quadriceps aching, I push my legs, sprinting as fast as I can through the two sets of cones. Back and forth! I bring my knees up as high as I can each time hoping my coach doesn't scold me for bad technique. My god, this is painful! "Alright guys! That's it!" Phew! Finally!

Looking around all the sweaty and mostly topless men, I rummage around in my bag for my towel! I notice a rather short brunette man. He mustn't be older than 22. He is somewhat attractive I suppose. He in the minority as his white vest still hugs his body, the sweat acting as glue. I can tell by his cauliflower ears that he's a fighter. However, not from our gym. Perhaps he is an MMA fighter visiting or getting a taster to see if judo will help his game! Either way I've never seen him before. I've gathered his name as Brandon. Neil says he's a "born champion" but that's all lies! I've been fighting all my life and I've become the athlete I am through a lot of training and hard work, not simply being born amazing.

That's one thing about living where l do. I live in a small town. People on the inside and out call it "Chav City". It wasn't the best place to be brought up in and I've had my fair share of bad memories here but the gym was my 'happy place' call me cheesy, but it's true! I was bullied from the ages of 4 or 5 all the way through to 15! I even self harmed as a teenager. But as soon as my foot entered the dojo, that was it. Everything was left at the door. The bullies and bad times from the streets were a distant memory and I pulled with my arms and swept with my feet. It is my passion. I love it and I'm not planning on changing anything right now!

Wiping my forehead free of all the salty beads of sweat I contemplate my individuality. I'm the only girl at my club here in "Chav City" but even though you get the occasional dirty remarks from the boys, they're like my brothers! I've been training with them since I was 6 years old! Nothing surprises me anymore!

I take off my Super Nutrition t-shirt revealing my abs and black sports bra, and head towards my long awaited ice bath!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So sorry it's so short! But like/comment if you like it! It's my first book so please cut me some slack:)