章節 81: Chapter 81: The Olympic Dream Part-II

Her words were always sharp, cutting through any lingering doubts he had. But there were days when Rohan struggled. The training was grueling, and some days, his body felt like it was on the verge of breaking. His hamstring, though strong, still reminded him of the past, and there were moments when he feared reinjury. But each time the doubt crept in, Rohan remembered the lessons he had learned from his recovery—how he had overcome adversity once, and how he could do it again.The week before the Olympic qualifiers, Rohan had a particularly difficult training session. His legs felt heavy, his times were slower than usual, and every step felt like a monumental effort. Frustrated, he slammed his fist against the track after finishing his run, breathing hard, sweat dripping down his face."Rohan!" Ms. Mehra's voice cut through the fog of frustration. She marched over to him, her expression stern. "What's going on with you?""I don't know!" Rohan snapped, more at himself than at her. "I'm pushing myself, but it's not enough. I need to be faster. The qualifiers are next week, and I'm not where I should be."Ms. Mehra crossed her arms, watching him closely. "You're tired," she said bluntly. "Your body's telling you it needs rest, and you're not listening."Rohan shook his head. "I don't have time to rest. I need to be ready for the qualifiers.""Pushing yourself beyond your limits won't get you there," Ms. Mehra replied, her tone unyielding. "You're not a machine, Rohan. You've been training relentlessly for months, and now your body needs recovery. If you don't rest, you'll burn out before the qualifiers even begin."Rohan wanted to argue, but deep down, he knew she was right. His body was screaming for a break, and ignoring it would only make things worse. He had learned that lesson the hard way during his recovery from injury.Reluctantly, he nodded. "Fine. I'll take a day off."Ms. Mehra's expression softened slightly. "Take two days off. Trust me, Rohan—you've put in the work. Your body knows what to do. Now, you need to let it recover so you can perform at your best when it matters."The next two days were the hardest days of Rohan's training—not because of the physical exertion, but because of the stillness. He wasn't used to taking time off, especially not so close to such an important event. But he forced himself to rest, to let his body heal and recover. He focused on mental training, practicing his visualization techniques with Dr. Kapoor and reminding himself that rest was part of the process.When he returned to the track after his break, something had shifted. His legs felt lighter, his mind clearer. He had regained his sharpness, and his times reflected it. Every sprint, every stride felt strong, efficient, and precise. He was ready.The day of the Olympic qualifiers arrived, and the air was thick with anticipation. The stadium was packed with athletes, all vying for a spot on their respective national teams. Rohan could feel the energy in the air, the tension of competition hanging over the track like a storm cloud.But as he stood at the starting line, his nerves steady, Rohan realized that something was different this time. The pressure that had weighed him down during the World Championships was no longer there. Instead, there was a sense of calm, a quiet confidence that came from knowing he had done everything he could to prepare.