Dive Right In (8 page)

It seemed to take forever to get there, and by the time she did, Traci had gone past the vertical line she had wanted for
her entry. Her legs flopped forward too far and the backs of her legs splashed way too much. But she had
done the dive.
She was in the water!

Traci surfaced and swam to the edge of the pool. As she climbed out, Carly gave her a thumbs-up signal. Traci knew that it
wasn’t for the dive itself,
which had been pretty bad. It was for having done it at all.

“Once again,” Margo said, “and remember to adjust for the greater height of the board. You should take more time in your come-out
and be sure to keep your body tense as you prepare for your entry. Make certain your arms are fully extended.”

Traci nodded as she dried herself with the chamois. Then she started up the ladder again. Margo’s criticisms were completely
right, of course. And Traci knew that, this time, she would do better. More important, she knew that she could master her
fear.

For the next few sessions, Traci worked from the three-meter board. She tried to remember that she had more time for somersaults.
She worked on all the dives she had learned on the one-meter board: backward, reverse, and inward dives, as well as forward
ones; dives in the tuck, pike, and straight positions. Margo’s steady stream of comments and corrections gave Traci so much
to think about that she almost forgot to worry about the three-meter height.

During her second week using a three-meter board, Traci did her first successful three-and-a-half
somersault dives, both tuck and pike. She barely had time to feel proud of her accomplishment before Margo had her begin working
on adding one and even two twists to these dives.

As she came up from the pool after performing a three-and-a-half somersault dive with two twists in the pike position, she
was surprised to see Sophia waiting for her. Traci hadn’t seen Sophia by the pool in several weeks.

“I can’t believe how far you’ve gotten since I saw you dive,” Sophia said. “You almost nailed that dive, and it’s got a pretty
high degree of difficulty.”

Traci had learned how judges score dives in competition. A judge awards a dive a point total from 0 to 10. Ten means that
the dive is perfect. A score like 8.8 means that the dive is very good. Scores such as 5.5 or less indicate that the dive
is pretty poor.

The point totals are then multiplied by a figure called the “degree of difficulty.” Every kind of dive has a degree of difficulty
rating assigned by an international committee that regulates diving competitions. A relatively easy one, like a simple forward
dive in a tuck position, is rated at 1.4. A very hard dive—such as a backward three-and-a-half somersault dive in a tuck position—gets
3.4.

This means that a perfect performance of a very easy dive doesn’t score as well as a very good—but
not
perfect—performance of a hard dive. If you don’t attempt difficult dives in competition, you might perform well, but you
won’t win.

Pleased by Sophia’s praise, Traci said, “I still have a long way to go, but thanks.”

“Sure you do. But Margo was right about you,” replied Sophia.

Before Traci could ask what Margo had said, Margo herself joined them. “Sophia is here to help me with a simulated competition,”
Margo said.

“What’s that?” asked Traci.

Margo explained. “Some of you will do five dives each, the same five. Sophia and I will act as judges and score the dives
for quality, just as judges do in real competitions.”

The rest of the girls gathered around. “There will be no winners or losers,” Margo continued. “I want to give some of you
who have not competed a chance
to experience how these events work. Each diver will get the list of dives. The standard rules of competition will apply.
Divers have to complete each dive within a time limit. They must keep their lists handy and do the dives in the right order.
Once a diver is on the board, if she does not do the correct dive, or fails to dive, her score will be zero.”

“I understand,” Traci said.

“Good, because I want you to be one of the divers,” Margo said. “None of the dives you will do is beyond your present level
of skill. And, as I said, there will be no winners or losers. But you will have an idea of how competitions are run. Also,
this is being videotaped.” Margo pointed to a woman holding a camcorder. “You’ll get cassettes of your dives to study.”

Traci nodded, her mouth suddenly dry. She was certain that all the other girls in this group were still much better than she
was, no matter how much she had improved lately.

Four girls were in the group in addition to Traci. When Traci read the list of dives that they were to do, she was relieved
to see that she had done all of
them. The most difficult was a two-and-a-half somersault reverse dive in a tuck position.

The girls drew numbers from a box to determine the order in which they’d dive. Traci was to be the fourth one in each round.
The first dive on the list was a backward one-and-a-half somersault in the pike position.

The first diver did what looked to Traci to be a pretty good dive. The pike was not perfect. The girl didn’t bend enough,
but her entry was fine. Margo gave the girl a 6.5 and Sophia rated it a 7. The second diver had a problem with her approach
and messed up her entry badly. Both coaches awarded only 4.5. The third diver, whom Tracy barely knew to say hello to,
aced
it. It was a beautiful pike, a well-timed come-out, and a straight up-and-down entry. She received scores of 9.2 from Margo
and 9.4 from Sophia.

Traci went out on the board and paused, closing her eyes as she always did to visualize her actions. Her approach and hurdle
were smooth, and she got good lean into the dive. But she didn’t quite finish her come-out, and her entry was rushed. She
got the
same score from both coaches: 6.5. The last diver also got a 6.5.

On the next two dives, Traci did somewhat better. Her third, a one-and-a-half inward somersault in a tuck position, earned
her a 7 from Margo and a 7.2 from Sophia—the second-highest score among the five divers.

On the fourth dive, a forward two-and-a-half somersault in a tuck, Traci lost concentration. She mistimed her entry and landed
on her back with a loud
splat.
It got her a 3.5—the lowest score any of the girls had gotten.

Traci felt angry at herself, and the anger helped her to focus hard on the last of the dives: a one-and-a-half reverse somersault
with a twist in a pike position. Her approach was fine, and she got good elevation off the board. Traci knew that her pike
was good—her forehead touched her legs, and she thought her entry was outstanding.

She scored two 8.5s—her best marks. Traci felt that she had done well enough. At least she knew she had not embarrassed herself.

Margo nodded to Traci at the end of the session, meaning that she was satisfied. “You’ll get the cassette
tomorrow,” she said. “Study it carefully. In ten days, there is going to be an exhibition, with real judges. You’ll be one
of the divers. I think you’re ready.” Traci hoped that Margo was right.

T
he next few sessions were busy ones for Traci. She learned a couple of new dives and worked hard to polish the ones she already
knew. She learned that for the exhibition she would choose her own dives. There would be five in all, and she would have to
decide for herself how difficult her choices would be.

Valerie called her one evening to ask if Traci wanted to split a pizza for dinner. After asking her mother, Traci agreed to
meet Valerie a little later.

While they waited for their order, Traci studied Valerie for clues to how her friend was feeling. Finally, she said, “You
look better than the last time I saw you.”

Valerie put down her drink and smiled. “I
am
better. I mean, gymnastics is better. I’m still not numero
uno or anything, but I’m really working again, and the coach is happy.”

Traci smiled. “So you’re not planning to quit just yet, huh?”

“No way,” Valerie said as the waiter put their pepperoni and mushroom pizza on the table. “And you were a big help.”

Traci shrugged and reached for a slice. “It was no big deal.”

Valerie replied. “It
was
a big deal, as far as I’m concerned. I’d never lost confidence before, not even for a second. I thought that was
it,
I was toast. You made me see that I was totally wrong. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Traci wiped some cheese off her hand with a napkin. “You can call us even. You did the same thing for me.”

“We’re the same kind of person as far as sports goes,” said Valerie. “We both want to take it to the limit, go the distance.
We each know how the other one’s mind works. That’s why we helped each other through these situations. It takes someone who
knows what’s happening.”

Traci thought as she chewed on a bite of pizza. “I
guess that’s right. I’ve learned something about myself since I started working with Margo. I found out that I really do want
to see what I’ve got. I’m willing to push myself, and I work harder when someone else pushes me. I was worried that I’d be
afraid to dive off a three-meter board, but you know what? I’ve learned how to concentrate until my fear sort of fades away.
It doesn’t disappear, but it shrinks, and then I can handle it.”

Valerie nodded. “And
I’ve
learned that when I find myself facing tougher competition than I was used to, it revs me up. When the bar is raised, I’ll
do whatever it takes to get over it.”

Traci frowned. “What happens if we don’t make it to the top?”

“I don’t know,” admitted Valerie. “I guess I’ll be disappointed. But as long as I know that I gave it all I could, I won’t
be destroyed, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Traci said. “I do. The same thing goes for me, I think.”

A few days later, Traci was working on a dive that she was considering for the exhibition: a two-and-a-half somersault inward
dive in a pike position. She
thought that if she could nail this one it would be a big help in her final score. On the other hand, if she messed it up,
it could be a disaster. She decided she’d have to try several more until she was confident she could do it well. If not, then
she’d use the—

“Traci?”

Startled, Traci turned to find her mother standing there, looking very upset.

“Mom? What’s the matter?” Traci knew just from Mrs. Winchell’s expression that something was very wrong.

Traci’s mother took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking. “It’s your brother. Pete’s been in an accident.”

Traci stared at Mrs. Winchell. “Is he all right? What happened?”

“His bike was hit by a car. He’s been taken to the emergency room at County Medical. Your dad is there with him, and we’ll
meet him there.”

Traci rushed to her mother and the two hugged, forgetting completely that Traci was wearing a wet swimsuit. “How is he doing?
What did you hear?”

Mrs. Winchell stood back and shook her head.
“He’s unconscious, and they’re still running tests. That’s all we know for now, honey. Get dried off, and I’ll wait for you
here.”

Traci noticed Margo heading their way with a questioning look on her face. Quickly she explained what had happened to Pete.
“I have to go to the hospital with my mother.”

“Of course you must,” Margo said, looking worried. “I’ll wait here with your mother while you get dressed.”

Traci hurried into the locker room and changed into street clothes. It seemed to take forever, but she finished as quickly
as she could and ran to join her mother. There was little talk between them as they drove to the hospital.

“Pete
was
wearing his helmet, wasn’t he?” Traci asked.

“He always wears it,” said Mrs. Winchell. “I’m sure he was.”

When they walked quickly into the ER waiting room, Mr. Winchell stood up and hugged Traci. He looked pale and shaken. Before
Traci could ask, he spoke.

“He’s still unconscious. The doctor says that there
may be nerve damage, but it’s impossible say how severe it is, or even if there is any at all. And there’s still no way of
knowing how full a recovery he’ll make. But there’s a very good chance he’ll be fine. They did some kind of reflex test and
the results were encouraging, they say.”

The three Winchells sat down to wait. Around them, other people came and went. Babies howled, people walked or limped in and
walked out with bandaged arms. Across the room, Traci saw a young couple talking quietly to each other, looking as if they,
too, were waiting for news about a loved one. A television set was on in the corner of the waiting room, but nobody seemed
to be watching it.

Traci picked up a magazine and put it down again without opening it. A doctor in a blue surgical gown came through a door,
went over to the young couple, and spoke to them. The young woman gasped, and the young man hugged her tightly. Had they gotten
bad news? There was no way to tell. The doctor left and the couple sat down again.

“I think he’ll be fine,” said Mr. Winchell after what seemed like an endless silence. “Pete’s tough. He’ll come through.”

“Sure he will, Daddy,” Traci said, more out of a need to say something positive than because she believed it.

Traci looked at the clock on the wall and realized that they had been waiting for an hour. It seemed like much more time had
passed.

The door to the waiting room was under the clock. It opened just as Traci was checking the time. To her amazement, Traci saw
Margo come into the room. Margo headed straight for her.

“How is your brother? Have you had any news?”

“Uh… no, nothing. The last we heard, he was still unconscious, and they don’t know anything yet for sure,” Traci stammered.
She hadn’t recovered from the surprise of seeing the coach.

Margo greeted Traci’s mother, who introduced the coach to Mr. Winchell. Sitting down between Traci and Mrs. Winchell, she
asked, “Can I be of help in any way? Is there anyone I could call? Would you like anything to eat or drink? I can go to the
cafeteria while you wait here.”