Semifinals
Dayo had always told people he didn't feel pressure. He said it with confidence, and most times he even believed it himself. But the semifinals were different. The air around the arena felt heavier than any previous round. Everything around him—swimmers stretching, coaches whispering strategy, fans screaming from the stands—reminded him that this part of the competition was the point where dreams died or moved forward.
It was loud, tense, and charged in a way he had never experienced.
He looked around and realized that nearly every athlete standing around him had a desperate look in their eyes. Some were visibly excited, but beneath that excitement was fear. For many of them, this was their only shot at the Olympics. Once the previously banned swimmers returned next season, a lot of these people would never have this chance again. For them, this semifinal was a last window to rewrite their future.
