Chapter 54
Teagan
A year and a half year later
This is it.
My heart pounds wildly in my chest with each step I take.
The energy of the gym fills my veins as I get closer, and a sense of excitement and nerves formulate.
I stop just before the tunnel exit, taking a moment to myself before I’m in front of thousands of fans and cameras where millions are watching around the world.
And more importantly, my family in the stands.
Squinting, I do my best to find them in the crowd and spot them right near the floor routine mat. Sitting front row are Quentin, Mila, Ian, Camille, Ryker, Olivia, Clara, and Kaya.
Love swells in my chest at the sight of the people I love the most, and it reminds me that no matter what happens, I have my family. Which is truly the greatest achievement of all.
Hell, they came all the way to Beijing to support me as I compete in the Olympics, with Ian and Ryker paying fines for missing two weeks of baseball.
Yeah, I made Team USA again.
After the podcast came out, the gym was revamped with all new trainers and coaches. Long gone were the scum who all had a hand in silencing and dismissing me wrongfully from the team.
The summer after I had Mila, I competed in a qualifier competition and placed gold in all categories. I wasn’t expecting it, not after being off for so long and only having trained for a few months.
I was proud nonetheless and ecstatic when Team USA offered me a spot on their team for the Olympics the next summer.
And now I’m here, competing for what I know will be the last time.
I wanted to come back once more, for me and my daughter. To see what it felt like to compete when it wasn’t for gaining the attention of someone who was never going to give it.
It’s the first time I haven’t looked for her in the crowds. I’ve truly let her go, and while it’s painful at times, it’s exactly what I needed.
It has been so freeing. It’s made gymnastics fun for me again, and oddly enough, I think it’s made me a better gymnast.
I know this is it for me, though, competing-wise.
I’m twenty-six now, and while competing used to be everything to me, I know it’s time to shift away.
I’d like to have more kids, at least three.
I love being a mom and parenting with Quentin is the most fun and rewarding experience.
I’ll still coach at ESA, but my days of competing are over after this final floor routine.
Stepping out of the tunnel, I’m met with clapping and cheers from around the gym. I wave to the crowd, giving them a smile as I make my way to my team.
“Teagan, mind if we get a quick word in with you?” a reporter asks.
“Sure,” I agree, noticing the camera and Olympics rings on her shirt.
“How are you feeling going into your final competition for the Olympics? So far, you’ve placed number one in everything else. Do you think you can sweep the competition here?”
“I’m feeling confident, but mostly excited. This is what I love to do, and I’m excited to perform a routine I have fun doing. Winning would just be the cherry on top,” I say humbly.
“Well, good luck, Teagan. It’s been amazing watching you perform again. I think I can speak for women when I say it’s been very inspiring. Not only did you come back after that awful incident, but also after having a baby. That’s no easy feat.”
“Thank you so much. I hope all the women watching never forget their power,” I say, then smile and nod to the camera before continuing on to where the rest of my team is.
I take off my sweatpants and run my hands over my black leotard, with blue and red designs all over. It might be the last time I wear one of these, and I do my best to take in every single detail I might never feel again.
Carol is the first to do her routine, with me going next.
I stretch as I watch, and when she finishes, I clap along with the crowd, proud of my teammate.
I’ve never been much of a team player before, but now it’s different. I am different.
“Teagan Witt,” I hear my name called on the microphone, my signal that I need to make my way to the mat.
All I can hear is the pounding of my heart in my ears as I walk, the buzz of the crowd fading into background noise that I tune out.
I look for my daughter in the crowd with her long waves and big hazel eyes, and find her waving to me with a wide smile. I blow her a kiss, and Quentin too, who mouths, “I love you.” It erases the jitters, and instead I feel grounded, ready to do this.
When I hear the beginning notes of “Still Into You,” I snap into performance mode.
Doing my routine is like second nature, having practiced it so many times. I hit every note the way I planned, and I execute all of my stunts without flaws, my landings strong and sturdy.
I can feel the energy in the room, and it builds me up. I’m in the corner, taking a breath before I complete my final stunt, a triple twist with a double tuck. It’s the hardest skill in the routine, but I know I’ve got this.
And I do. I complete it perfectly, landing on both feet without stumbling. The crowd goes wild, and I’m smiling from ear to ear as I finish my last few moves and end up on the floor, in the splits position.
Once the music cuts off, the gym fills with shouting and clapping, but the only ones I care about are my family.
Without waiting to hear my score, I run right to my family, not stopping until I’m in Quentin’s arms, sandwiching our daughter between us.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” he says hoarsely into my ear.
My body shakes as I cry and kiss Mila’s forehead.
“Mama flip,” she squeals.
She’s learned the world flip, probably from watching me over the last few months and it’s her favorite thing to say now.
“I love you two,” I croak before giving Quentin a chaste kiss.
“Proud of you, sis.” Ian beams.
“You’re sweeping once again.” Kaya grins.
“See, the talented trio is alive and well!” Clara shouts as she claps her hands together.
“That was insane!” Camille cheers.
“That was badass, Auntie T,” Olivia says, making us all laugh. She’s got Ryker’s potty mouth.
“Don’t swear,” Ryker corrects her, then says, “That was fucking cool.”
We all laugh, and I hug Quentin and Mila one last time before returning to my team as I watch the rest of the girls compete.
Hours later, it’s ceremony time, and we’re all waiting on the edge of our seats.
Whereas before they would tell us our score and we would know if we placed or not, now we find out at the ceremony. And if you don’t place, your coach will be given the scores.
The announcer booms over the microphone, “Welcome everyone to the standings for the floor routine. In third place, Celia Lima, of Brazil.”
The crowd claps as she makes her way to the podium and receives her medal.
“In second place, Emi Tanaka, of Japan.”
My knee bounces as we watch Emi take the podium and await for the announcement for first place.
“And in first place, Teagan Witt, of the United States of America.”
My head snaps up as it registers that he said my name.
I swept gold in every category, for the second time. After giving birth and dealing with so much bullshit internally and externally.
My teammates and coaches congratulate me and I head to the stage, feeling out of body as it happens.
But before I take the step up to the podium, I turn around to where my family is. I quickly run over there and take Mila into my arms. I carry her on my hip as I make my way back to the podium and step up on top, with her right by my side.
I bow as the gold medal is placed around my neck, and Mila instantly holds it in her hands. She smiles as she stays in a trance, unaware of the cameras surrounding us. I kiss her nose, then whisper, “I couldn’t have been here without you, my love. Thank you.”
She doesn’t respond, only giggles and waves to Emi and Celia.
I wave to the crowd and cameras, peace settling over me knowing this is the last time I’ll see this view.
I came and did what I needed to do for me, and now it’s time to focus on my family.
And I can’t wait for that chapter.
Later that night, Quentin and I are enjoying a quiet night in our hotel room. Mila is passed out in her playpen, leaving it to be just the two of us.
We’re sitting out on our balcony, me in Quentin’s arms as we snuggle on the sofa patio set. The city of Beijing lights up ahead of us.
“I’m so proud of you,” Quentin muses, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I snuggle my head against his chest. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you. I wouldn’t have been able to train the way I did, and I have you to thank for that.”
“This is all you. I have nothing to do with this. You’re the one who flung your body around in insane ways that nearly made my heart stop at points, not me,” he says, making me chuckle softly.
The first competition he came to watch me compete in, he said he was sweating profusely as he realized how dangerous this sport can be if it goes wrong. Over time, though, he saw how much practice and effort I put in, ensuring I’d be safe.
“Fair enough,” I reply, my chest warm as happiness radiates through me. “I can’t believe this is my life sometimes, you know?”
“What do you mean?” he asks, running a hand down my back.
“That I actually came back and won. It’s everything I’ve always wanted, and it feels so surreal to achieve that goal. And the best part? The people who mattered the most to me were there to see it.”
“You deserve it, mon coeur. You’re talented and brave. That win meant as much to you as it did to all the women who have been rooting for you. The ones who have been inspired by you and have changed their lives.”
Our podcast on World of Women started a conversation around women being silenced not only in sports, but in life in general. They now have a segment with women sharing their stories who were inspired to take charge after we told our story.
Every time I listen to one, I cry. Not only because of their own sad stories, but because of the knowledge that I did the right thing in finally speaking up. I’ll forever be grateful I did, for myself and every other woman out there.
“I have everything I’ve ever wanted and more, you know? I didn’t know I’d want a family or a partner, yet here I am, happier than ever. Well…” I trail off, looking up at him.
He cocks his head. “What do you mean?”
“I think I could be even happier with another baby or two.”
The smile that lifts his cheeks is infectious, making me smile too as he says, “I couldn’t agree more. I’m ready to start trying when you are, and in the meantime, we can practice.”
“When my body doesn’t feel broken after throwing it around for days, yes,” I tell him as I move to lie directly on top of him. “Cuddle time?” I whisper, knowing I sound like a softy and not caring in the slightest.
Love has changed me in ways I can’t describe. Knowing I’m loved as I am gives me a sense of security I’ve always been missing.
It turns out love was the perfect twist that my life needed.
Who would’ve thought?
Maybe Clara, but not me.
And yet, I’m so happy things didn’t turn out the way I once wanted them. Sometimes life has a funny way of working out like that.
THE END!