Trials are just three weeks later. In Rhetia, this is a one-day competition. The winner, along with the National Champion, automatically makes the World Team, but the other four gymnasts will be chosen by the coaches. I was seventh at Nationals among the gymnasts who were at least sixteen, but if I’d made fewer mistakes, I could have easily come in fifth.
“You have to be prepared for the fact that you might not make the World Team,” Mom says.
I’m not that worried. Erena, Elila, Tyanna, and Sunlissia would compete all-around. Tara Tlaer or Reana would compete two events, and I’d compete the other two. We had a good World Team last year; we’d medaled. Lee had done well at Nationals, yes, but she had no senior international competition experience. She’s a very nice person, but doesn’t have the polish that I have.
The news comes in that Lee injured herself during training and won’t be able to compete at Trials. My position is secure.
We wear our pink-and-green National Team leotards under our blue and green National Team warm-ups as we march into the Lilseae Stadium. It is too hot to wear a long-sleeved leotard, never mind the warm-ups, but the Queen is watching.
The twelve of us take turns competing one-at-a-time. This is the first World Trials Rhetia has ever had, ever. It is nerve-wracking. Karena, Lee’s replacement, competes first on every event. She’s an Open gymnast, but she’s the next old enough gymnast. And she does have decent form, even though she competes just a Yurchenko layout on Vault. Could I do a layout when I was in Open? I wonder while I wait for my group to warm up. I don’t think I could yet. We are competing in reverse order of our placing at Nationals, which means I’m second-to last on Vault. Tara Tlaer is before me.
Vault goes well. One step on my Rudi, my front handspring one-and-a-half twisting flip. I stick my Yurchenko double. I do a good Bar routine, but my score is low. I compete earlier on Beam, but I don’t fall. A few wobbles, but nothing major. My last Beam routine. I won’t kid myself that I’m good enough to compete all-around. I just want that Worlds medal around my neck. I just want to say that I’m a World Team Member. A third-generation Worlds Competitor. And I have one more routine left.
“What the heck was that last tumbling pass?” Sunlissia asks, giggling. One of the Volcano Gym Reds gymnasts is competing. I think she was trying to do a double back layout, but it was more like an arched pike shape.
“I think Erie knows she probably won’t make the team, so she’s throwing whatever she can,” Tyanna says.
Sunlissia is first of the final group. I high-five her when she finishes. Erena dazzles the crowd with her gorgeous dance. I am next. I take a deep breath.
My routine is fine until my last pass, when I nearly go out of bounds. But I don’t. I run off the floor, glad that my competition is over. I can’t wait. Three more routines until I am announced as a member of Rhetia’s first team to be sent to a non-boycotted World Championships. I’ve been working towards this moment ever since I can remember.
Tyanna has bouncy Floor music that makes me want to dance on the sidelines. But I don’t. I do clap along to it, but so is everyone else. Especially during Elila’s routine—the whole country loves Elila’s Floor routine. She has made a ridiculous amount of money out of sponsorships. She’s last, and really hits.
The World Team isn’t named right away. Instead, coaches from all the gyms go into a room to discuss who they will choose. The twelve of us wait on the Floor while an announcer amuses the audience by letting the kids have handstand contests and things.
Richenda 