Ch 1 The Olympics

Enzo's pov

And I have just arrived in the host city this year, Washington.

This time around unlike last time, the flight was quite short and it has to do with the fact the Olympics is being hosted in my country and I'm proud of that.

Regardless, my personal coach and I have just arrived by car and of course, before we can even get into the Olympic Village, there is lots of security checking our stuff.

But that's ok, I think it is important for the Olympics to have extra security during our stay, our stay needs to be pleasant.

And even if it might be constraining when it comes to time management, I still agree that the Olympic Village is far from the city itself, not next to the venues.

That way we are safe and away from the issues of the city that's handling the whole process of the Olympics.

We go past the last check and then move a bit more in the car and we arrive at the Olympic Village.

Immediately I notice all the flags on the sides of a platform and then I look behind and it reveals a street with all residences for each country designed as dorms.

Well, it was like that the other times too but it's very pretty, I'm proud of my country.

Then I noticed that some balconies have each a sign saying US and it's quite a lot of them.

This time around the US will have the most athletes, around 550 since we're the hosting country.

The car stops at one hotel designed for the US team and I notice the residence is for all aquatics sports in the Olympics, it includes swimming, of course, artistic swimming, marathon swimming, diving and water polo.

So this means I'll be staying in this building.

My personal coach and I get off the car and he takes my suitcase from me from the back of the car and then hands it to me.

Then we are met and greeted by the members of the Olympic committee.

"Welcome to the Olympic Village of the 2020 Washington Olympics." A lady says smiling yet seeming to have mesmerized that.

"Thank you," I say with a small smile.

"This will be the residence you will be staying in during your stay." Another man says smiling and I nod.

"To ensure enhanced safety, during the stay of athletes for this Olympics, all athletes will have a pass in the form of a card. It can be used for all places except for the rooms of other athletes rooms." Another lady says.

Good, even more safety I appreciate that, I don't want to get mobbed because of my popularity.

"Before entering we will remind you of some important rules." The first lady says.

"Ok," My personal coach agrees and I slightly nod.

"To ensure safety, only athletes competing in the Olympics are permitted to sleep in the residences and a limited list of guests is allowed. Only coaches and other athletes competing who live in the other residences can enter at all times. As for family members, they are only permitted under strict conditions, we must be notified at all times if any family member or close friend is to enter the building, understood?" The first lady says.

"Yes," We both agree.

"Additionally just as a reminder, athletes are to leave in the next 48 hours after their last competition unless approved to stay longer." The same lady says and we both nod.

Wow, it's strict but understandable, it was quite similar in the last two editions of the Olympics so I'm used to this.

"Now, here is your pass to enter the building during your stay." Another lady says handing me a special room card and I take it.

"Thanks," I say politely.

"Additionally, for more information about the duration of the Olympics and the functionalities of the residence you will be either told or you will be able to find it on a card of information in your room." The first lady says and I nod.

"Ok, thank you," I say.

"Now you may enter the building," The man says and we both smile politely.

"Have a good stay and a great time." The first lady says.

"Thank you and have a good day," I say.

I take my pass and use it and then the door opens.

I get in with my suitcase and my personal coach follows me closely behind, then he leaves me and goes sit with the other coaches he recognizes.

As soon as I get in I am met by a huge dining hall with already a few other athletes sitting and chatting.

Immediately they turn around and all recognize me. Most of them are familiar to me except the new athletes, I especially noticed 3 people in particular, two of my partners in the men's 4x100 m medley relay and one partner in the mixed 4x200m medley relay.

"Enzo!" One of the guys yells my name and I join them at their table.

Then I stop once I arrive.

"Hey, you've made it." My first relay partner Luke says.

Luke Evans, he's been my first swim partner for already 5 years and together we won a silver for the men's 4x100 m Medley relay at the 2016 Johannesburg Olympics.

I still cherish that day as it was my first Olympic medal in a relay.

This year we aim to do even better, we are the favourite to win and we won gold at almost all our last championships, including at the trials.

"Yeah, you arrived earlier?" I ask and he smiles.

"Yeah, I arrived a few hours ago." He says.

"Welcome back, Enzo." My other partner Austin says smiling.

Austin Boone, the second partner in the same relay, also was part of a spectacular win of silver in the 2016 Olympics. He's making his 2nd appearance like Luke.

"Thanks," I say smiling softly happy to be reunited with my partners.

With those two guys, I have the best chemistry and that's great since they are both still young Luke 21 and Austin 22.

However, this year our relay group will be a bit different

Before we had a guy who was a senior and was making his 3rd appearance last time but he retired since, hence those past two years we started training with a new guy, Miles Hutchinson.

He's even younger at age 19 and making his first appearance at the Olympics but it seems like ever since he joined our group we've been better than ever with him.

He's really good, maybe just behind me but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd try to aim for a better time than me at the 100 m freestyle, he's a sure bet for the final alongside me.

Regardless, he hasn't arrived yet it seems.

I sit down with the guys and talk to them a bit to catch up and then another familiar person comes over, Jessica Smith.

"Hi, no time no see." She smiles upon seeing me and I smile too.

"No time no see for you too," I say smiling and we pull in for a hug.

Jessica Smith, she's making her 4th appearance and she's the best female swimmer so far for Team US.

She also turns out to be a great friend of mine, she was my idol for a bit before I made it to the Olympics and now I get to get to be on the same team as her and be on her level.

We are both looked on as the two best swimmers for team US.

This year it'll also be a bit different, for the first ever in the Olympics, I'll be making the mixed 4x100 m medley with her in the team and it's such an honour to compete alongside her.

This year we aim to make it on the podium, they came close in 2016 but just missed it, and now we have more chances with me being a part of the team.

Overall, I'll be a part of a lot of swim events in a short period and it'll be a lot but totally worth it.

———————

We chatted a bit as others arrived including Miles and ate our first meal from the buffet but now it was time to enter the room.

It turns out I'll be sharing with Luke and I'm glad, last time it was with Austin, but now it'll be a bit different.

I take my pass, swipe it and push open the door.

Luke who tagged along with me gets in first.

We are greeted by beautiful beds each from different sides and covers representing the Washington Olympics and a window which comes with a balcony in the center.

Nice looking room.

I take the bed closer to the window and notice a few key things and there's two things that grabs my attention, the first one being Team US uniform outfits.

"Wow, those designs are kinda good looking," I say first and Luke agrees across the room.

"Yeah, it's fire, I can't wait to wear it."

Then I take a look at the other thing that grabs my attention, it's a bag of condoms with a message on it from the Olympic committee.

Really?

I'm sure my brother Logan would love that have that.

"Condoms? They're so nice; they care about our health. I'll for sure try it out." Luke says smiling teasingly and I scowl slightly.

"Don't you dare," I warn and his eyes widen.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm not here for that, I'm here for the gold!" He yells.

"Yeah! That's the spirit!" I say proudly and we high-five.

It seems like the stay during this Olympics might go well.