Amber Jones

Standing on the podium with a silver medal around my neck, I should've felt proud. But all I could think about was the gold that slipped through my fingers. For an athlete, the Olympics are everything. I had trained relentlessly, dedicated my life to this moment, and yet, here I was, second best.

It wasn’t like me to lose focus. I’ve always been laser-focused on my goals, ever since I was a kid back in Los Angeles, USA. Growing up, I split my time between the vibrant city streets and the track, where my talent for athletics, especially the long jump, was first noticed. I quickly became a fixture at competitions, often leaving with the highest accolades. But Olympic gold? That was the ultimate dream, the pinnacle of what I'd been striving for.

This year was supposed to be different. I spent every day preparing, mentally and physically. My coach was relentless, pushing me to the edge, reminding me that there’s no room for distraction at this level. And he was right.

But then New York happened. I couldn’t sleep one night, jet-lagged and restless in a hotel halfway across the world. I went down to the hotel bar, hoping a change of scenery might help. That’s where I met him. He had this way of making me forget everything, just with a smile and a few well-chosen words. Before I knew it, we were seeing each other regularly, and I fell in love.

My coach noticed the change in me, how I was a little less present, a little less driven. He warned me, of course, telling me I needed to stay focused. But I couldn’t help it. For the first time, something mattered more than athletics. And as much as I hate to admit it, that affected my performance.

Standing on that podium, I felt like a failure. But then, as I stepped off, I saw him in the crowd, smiling at me like I was the only one that mattered. In that moment, I realized something: I had gained something else, something equally valuable.

I still want that gold, of course. But for now, I’m learning to balance my dreams with my newfound happiness. Because while winning is everything in this world, sometimes, love is the one thing that can make you feel like a winner, no matter what.