16. Camden #3
“It is, Mr. Kane,” Georgina answered, “but it doesn’t matter. Once an athlete tests positive, they are banned from competition. If Mr. Hayes would like to protest, he may, but less than a thousandth of these types of cases are ever overturned.”
“What was the substance?” Orion asked. “I’d like to know as much as possible before we leave here today.”
“The anabolic steroid, boldenone.”
“What about us? Is that what this morning was about?” Orion asked.
“Yes, Mr. Ellis, it was. We are ordering a rush on these results, but you all passed your initial tests. It was a secondary test that Preston failed. None of your samples gave the technicians a reason to send a secondary test out. As long as every sample from today is clean, you are all in the clear.”
“What Georgina is saying is that we are good to compete and we’re praying for all the results to come back clean. They’re going to try to have preliminary results by the team finals-”
“Because if one more person is out, then we’d need the remaining three to do every event,” Miles finished for him.
“We also need the results for credibility.” Georgina stood up and started pacing.
“This is a huge blow for USA Gymnastics and the USOC, to have the host country involved in such a scandal during the Games.” She shook her head.
“I’m required to keep the IOC in the loop.
As soon as the results are back and clean, the team is going to be interviewed by NBC.
I should’ve already asked, but did any of you know anything about this? ”
We all shook our heads.
“Good, I assumed as much based on Preston’s reaction. Coach Woodward will let you know your results and the timing of the interview. Good day, gentlemen.”
And with that, she left the room.
It felt like a little of the pressure that had built up left with her. Cassie handed us our phones back, though Coach warned that USA Gymnastics was handling the story and we were not to tell anyone.
As expected, I had three texts from Luke.
Cam: I’m good. I’ll call in a bit. Still in a team meeting.
“Can I get a hug? This was a lot to process,” Ezra asked, breaking the silence.
“Of course, of course,” Coach said, standing up, but Zane was already wrapping Ezra in his arms.
“I’m sorry, gentleman. I know it’s a lot to take in.”
Noah came over to me for a hug, Hudson joined Miles, who had started crying, and Coach and Cassie gave Orion two hugs.
Between sobs, Miles managed to say, “I mean, he was an asshole, but if he didn’t even know…”
“It could’ve been the steroids making him that way. They can make people more aggressive, change your personality,” Orion added.
After the hugs stopped, each coach sat next to their athlete, with Cassie next to Orion, and Woodward on her other side.
“Okay, guys. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but we’ll come out the other side of this stronger. Georgina left before either of us had a chance to mention the good news.”
“Good news?” I asked.
What good could possibly come from this?
“Yes. You were ineligible before due to the two athlete per country rule. With Preston disqualified, a number of you have now qualified for event finals. Ezra, you’ve made the parallel bars final.”
“But I came in eleventh.”
“The athletes that were in ninth and tenth had two teammates ahead of them. You’re the next eligible athlete.”
“Oh.” He seemed to need a second to process. “Wow.”
I finally felt the room lift a little with that news.
After a round of congrats and backslapping, Coach continued, “Orion, nothing changed for you, I’m afraid, because you already made the three finals you could make, but Cam, you’re in for pommel horse now, making you a finalist in six of the seven events. ”
I could barely contain my smile as the room broke into applause, led by Coach himself. Noah wrapped me in a half hug from his seat next to me and messed up my hair. We had turned the corner. We could pull together and still get a win from this.
“And last but not least, Miles McQueen.” All eyes turned to Miles and his face was priceless - half terror, half excitement. “Miles is now in the high bar finals-”
Cue the room erupting in more applause. Ezra was practically jumping on top of Miles at this point.
“-and-”
“There’s an ‘and’?!” Miles asked, turning to look at Coach while pressed against Hudson’s chest with Ezra clinging to his back.
“-the all-around final.”
Holy shit.
“You were in the top twenty-four. It’s done. You’re in.”
I turned to watch Hudson pick Miles up and hold him up in the air above his head like Simba from The Lion King. Miles’ smile filled his face and then his eyes closed and it was clear he was crying again, so Hudson put him down and he took a seat, putting his head on the table.
Hudson and Ezra both had their hands on him. Hudson was rubbing his back, Ezra was holding his arm and half-hugging his left side.
“It’s a lot to take in for one morning, but I’m happy there’s a little good news out of this.
Please talk to me and your coaches before leaving about a plan for the rest of the day, and take some time for yourselves to process this - yoga, meditation, kickboxing, whatever will help.
I’ll let you know about your test results as soon as I hear, and the same goes for the press stuff. ”