Disqualified By Sara McFadden "200-yard Individual Medley, Mr. Starter" "Take your mark..." I reach down and grab the edge of the block, Almost immediately I begin to lean forward. The black "T" at the bottom of the pool moves faster and faster towards the wall. Oh crap, I'm going to fall in. BANG I finish my start by pushing up and out off the block, I glide into the water in a perfect streamline. The water is freezing, but I don't notice,                                               What if I DQ'd? Breakout. Two strokes butterfly. Breath. Loud, angry whistling. I glance at the Shen swimmer to my right, She's looking around too. Then, she stops. I stop too. The officials point toward the blocks. The swim back to the wall was definitely longer than 15 yards. I pull myself out of the water and look at my coach, "Turner, did I false start?" "Go back to your lane, they'll tell you what to do." "Sara McFadden?" "Yeah" "You're disqualified; your start was a little ea-" "I know" Hot steamy tears fog up my goggles I rip them off and walk over to where my team is. "Aw, don't cry." "It's okay." "Everything will be fine." I can't stop crying, it's not okay, and nothing will be fine.  I let myself down, and worse, I let my team down.