I stand at the end of the runway, my toes curling against the springy mat. My heart is pounding, but it’s the good kind—the excited kind. The vault is right there, waiting for me.
I take a deep breath and picture Simone Biles in my head. She runs fast, pushes off the springboard, and soars through the air like she has wings. That’s what I want to do. Maybe not a flip yet, but I’ll get there.
“Go for it, Misha!” Coach calls.
I nod and take off, sprinting toward the vault as fast as I can. The wind rushes past my face. My feet hit the springboard, and I jump, stretching my hands forward. They hit the vault, and I push off as hard as I can.
For a second, I’m flying.
Then—boom! My feet hit the mat, and I land on both feet. I wobble a little but stay upright.
“Nice job!” Coach says, clapping.
I grin. It wasn’t perfect, but it was my best vault yet. And one day, I will flip through the air—just like Simone.
June, 2025
