Just now, I’m sitting on the gymnastics gym floor—my legs are still tingling a little, and my palms are all sweaty—but the message in the class WeChat group has my heart racing like crazy. The head teacher tagged my dad: “Your son got a perfect score～” I stared at the screen, grinning nonstop, and suddenly all these months of “torturous training” felt totally worth it.
My Struggle as a Sit-and-Reach Struggler
You guys would never guess it—my long legs are actually my worst enemy when it comes to the sit-and-reach test. Last time we had the physical exam, I strained to reach forward as far as I could, but my fingers were still miles from the pass line. Every score was a red cross, and my classmates joked, “Having long legs is such a hassle!” But I couldn’t laugh at all—I just felt so frustrated.
The Coach’s “Devilish Training”
I made up my mind to nail this, so I’d head to the gymnastics gym every day after school. When the coach helped me stretch my legs? It was pure agony. He’d press down on my back, and my hamstrings felt like they were about to snap. Tears welled up in my eyes more than once, and I wanted to yell “stop”—but I’d clench my teeth and hold on. Then there were the drills where I stood on a springboard and reached forward. Every time my palms touched the floor, my muscles trembled from soreness. The coach would shout, “Hold on for 5 more seconds!” and I’d count silently, “1, 2, 3…” Each second felt like an eternity.
Seeing Progress, Daring to Push Harder
Slowly, I noticed my fingers could reach the floor—and even stretch a little further. Once, the coach measured the distance and said, “You’re 3 centimeters better than last week!” My eyes lit up right then—so I could get better! After that, no matter how much the leg stretches hurt, I forced myself to endure it. Because I knew every ache was building my strength.
Nailing It on Test Day (Beyond My Expectations)
Today, during the test, I took a deep breath, bent over, and reached out. It felt so smooth—my fingers easily passed the line, even sliding a little further. When the judge announced my score, I didn’t catch it at first. Not until a classmate patted my shoulder and yelled, “You got a perfect score!” did it sink in. My mind went blank for a second, and I was so happy I wanted to jump for joy.
The head teacher praised me in the group, and I know my parents must be thrilled too. Honestly, I used to be scared of pain—I’d always think, “Maybe just give up.” But this time, I bit the bullet and stuck with it. Now I get that saying: “What’s youth without sweat and tears?” My legs still ache, but my heart feels so light. From now on, when I face tough things, I’ll dare to say, “Let me try again!”
