A story to share together
Meryem's Golden Lane
Nine-year-old Meryem never gives up despite the challenges she faces, preparing for her dream swimming race and reaching for an Olympic medal.
Page 1
Nine-year-old Meryem loved the cool water and swimming more than anything else in the world. When she gathered her wavy hair and tucked it into her blue swim cap, she felt as strong as a fast dolphin. Her biggest dream was to swim in big races one day.
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Her coach, Can Bey, blew his whistle from the side, called out to Meryem, and smiled at her. Today, they were going to try a new breathing technique in the pool. Meryem jumped into the water with excitement and cheerfully let the cool water gently wrap around her arms.
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But the new turn move seemed quite difficult for Meryem. When she approached the wall, her legs got tangled, and a little bit of salty water went up her nose. Holding onto the edge of the pool, she lifted her head out of the water with a deep cough.
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Meryem pushed her yellow goggles up to her forehead and looked down sadly. She thought she would never be able to do this move. Can Bey came over, crouched down beside her, and gave her courage with a warm smile.
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Can Bey reminded her that even stormy seas calm down, and that patience is the greatest strength. Meryem took a deep breath and slowly let her worries out. Instead of giving up, she decided to try again.
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For days, she kept practicing in the pool every morning as the sun rose. She swung her arms with more rhythm and kicked her feet with more power. With every failed attempt, she leaped once more and swam swiftly to the other end of the pool.
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Months passed, and the day of the big Olympic trials finally arrived. Thousands of spectators were cheering around the giant pool. Meryem was excited, but the faith and courage in her heart were greater than any fear.
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When the starting whistle blew, Meryem bent like a bow and flew into the water. The moment she entered the water, all the noise stopped, and she only listened to the rhythm of the water. She performed that turn, which used to challenge her, perfectly and right on time.
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In the final stretch, she pushed with all her might and was the first swimmer to touch the wall. When she lifted her head out of the water, she saw her name in first place on the scoreboard. Can Bey was clapping from the stands and waving at her with joy.
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And so, with a shiny gold medal around her neck, Meryem stepped onto the top of the podium. She knew that no challenge she faced could stand in the way of hard work and faith. From that day on, she became a great champion who inspired young swimmers.
