Failing on the Biggest Stage: My Olympic Story

I left the track in shock, asking myself, “What did I do wrong? Is this really how the story ends?”

I had just competed in the qualifying rounds of the women's triple jump at the Tokyo Olympics. The auto-qualifying mark wasn’t one that I couldn’t have easily done any other year, yet on this day, I was far from it.

No one pursues a dream for a decade and expects to fall short. No one continues to push through adversity, challenge after challenge, entertaining the possibility of losing. Especially when their performance is so far below their capabilities.

After the competition, I walked past the media stations without being asked to stop, save for one woman at the very end of my long walk through the empty stadium corridors.

“Tori? Tori?” She beckoned.

I found her, surprised to hear anyone calling my name.

“Can you stop for an interview?”

I paused for just a moment, then shook my head no and continued to walk. What would I say, besides spewing all of my self-deprecating post-competition thoughts? Thoughts that would not be from my highest self.

“Oh hi! Yeah, today didn’t go my way. My legs felt heavy, and I couldn’t get to…