Denim Shorts, Running Shorts and an Olympic Dream

August 19, 2016

coco-and-vera-warm-sixcoco-and-vera-warm-2coco-and-vera-warm-3coco-and-vera-warm-5coco-and-vera-warm-1Marled by Reunited blouse (c/o)
American Eagle shorts (similar)
Christian Louboutin heels
Celine bag
Celine sunglasses
Madewell rings

When I was out to brunch with a girlfriend last weekend, I joked that I am far more active than all the high heel-and-dress ensembles that I wear would leave anyone to believe – partly because I am endlessly self-deprecating and never hesitate to make fun of myself, but mostly because it’s true. It’s the Olympics that got me thinking of it – have any of you been watching? I’m never excited when the Olympics comes around, and yet, every four years, I find myself sucked into the coverage, watching every minute I can find time for, because for years, I wanted to be in the Olympics myself. I would be lying if I said I remember how it started, but when I was about six, I became obsessed with learning to do a cartwheel, a task I was hopelessly inept at, much to my chagrin. But I refused to give up, and begged for gymnastics classes until my parents relented. I started when I was seven. My career didn’t show particular promise, I admit – I fell off the uneven bars the first time I got on them, a pattern that continued throughout my competition days (and got so bad when I was twelve that I actually once scored a 4.0 in competition – scores were only out of ten back ten, but still!) It took me close to two years to master the cartwheel. But, completely contrary to what is normal in gymnastics, a growth spurt when I was nine made me drastically more athletic in a short time and suddenly, I started to get it. I have boxes of ribbons and medals and trophies leftover from my competition days, which seem a lot more impressive than they actually were when I get all of the ribbons, medals and trophies out at one time…! But I loved every minute of it. I always wanted to do learn new things, to be in the gym more often, and there are very few things in my life that I can really say I’ve felt that passionate about. I made the switch from artistic gymnastics to rhythmic when I was fourteen, and spent two years four days a week. I was much better at rhythmic gymnastics than I had ever been at the artistic version, which I didn’t have the necessary physical strength for, but it never really felt like my sport, and a serious knee injury in my second year was the beginning of the end for me. A little part of me always wonders, what if… But I have no regrets; not every dream gets to become reality and that’s okay. In adulthood, I’ve gone through phases of being more and less active, but my wardrobe is never really complete without a pair of runners and some slightly-too-short running shorts (like the ones I was always rolling way up after my mom dropped me off at practise – I can say that now because I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations means enough time has passed that I can’t get in trouble for it!) I was never an Olympian, but I was an athlete, and although you would never know it from my outfits, those old habits are hard to break. As I sit here typing this, I’m already thinking about my next workout…!

Je brunchais avec une amie le week-end passe et nous plaisantions – j’ai dit que je suis bien plus sportive que mes tenues laissent croire, partiellement car j’emploi souvent de l’humour avec l’autodérision, je n’hésite jamais avant de me moquer de moi-même, mais surtout car c’est vrai. C’est les jeux Olympiques qui m’en ont fait réfléchir – vous les regarder sur la télé ? Je ne dirai jamais que je suis enthousiaste des Jeux olympiques, je n’étais presque pas au courant des Jeux à Rio avant qu’ils commencent, et pourtant, tous les quatre ans, je me trouve entrainée dans les reportages et je regarde tout ce je peux, avec un sentiment de nostalgie. Il y a des années, je rêvais de participer aux Jeux olympiques. Je ne me rappelle plus comment c’a commencé, mais dès mes six ans, mon désir de pouvoir faire la roue est devenue obsessionnelle. Malheureusement, j’étais absolument nulle. Je me suis donc mise à supplier mes parents pour qu’ils m’inscrivent à des leçons de gymnastique – mon premier leçon a eu lieu l’année prochaine. Personne ne m’aurait décrit comme douée en gymnastique – je suis tombée le moment que je suis montée sur les barres asymétriques pour la première fois ; malgré ma manque de talent inné, j’avais un vrai don pour tomber des barres asymétriques (je n’ose presque pas l’admettre, mais une fois, je suis tellement tombée pendant une compétition que j’ai reçu un 4.0 sur dix. Inutile de dire que je n’étais pas la gagnante ce jour-là.) Il m’a fallu presque deux ans afin de vraiment maitriser la roue.  Et cependant, contrairement à ce qui est normale en gymnastique, c’est après une poussée de croissance à mes neuf ans que j’ai enfin commence à améliorer. J’ai des boites de rubans d’excellences, de médailles et de trophées qui me restent de mes années de gymnastique (et je sais toujours faire la roue.) Si je les sort tout en même temps, on dirait que j’étais star, mais ce n’était pas vraiment le cas. Peu importe – j’adorais la gymnastique. J’avais toujours envie d’apprendre plus, de pratiquer davantage, et c’est rare que quelque chose me passionne autant. À mes quatorze ans, j’ai abandonné la gymnastique artistique, n’ayant pas assez la force physique requise pour poursuivre mon entrainement, et commencé à m’entrainer dans la gymnastique rythmique. Pendant deux ans, je pratiquais quatre jours sur sept – j’étais beaucoup plus adepte en gymnastique rythmique, mais je n’avais pas la même enthousiasme pour cette version du sport. Je me suis fait blessée à mes quinze ans et c’était le début de la fin de ma carrière en gymnastique. Quinze ans plus tard, lors des Jeux olympiques, je me demande toujours, et si… Mais je regrette rien, tout rêve ne peut pas devenir réalité. En adulte, je suis parfois plus sportive, parfois moins, mais mon dressing n’est jamais vraiment entier sans des baskets et un petit short running (qui ressemble au petit short que je retroussais même plus le moment que ma maman me déposait a la gymnase pour un séance d’entrainement… !) Je n’ai jamais vécu mon rêve olympique, mais j’étais athlète, et bien que vous ne le saurez pas en regardant mes tenues, ces habitudes d’athlète sont difficile de se défaire – pendant que je dactylographe ce paragraphe, je songe déjà à mon prochain training !

4 comments so far.

4 responses to “Denim Shorts, Running Shorts and an Olympic Dream”

  1. Lyddiegal says:

    I’ve never had a single athletic bone in my body. I was the kid running from the baseball rather than trying to catch it, ballet lasted less than a month, I routinely ‘forgot’ my gym clothes and for many years actually took pride in the fact that not a single athletic shoe graced my wardrobe. Last year at the behest of my sister I joined the Y and I started to take a stretch class, which i can now say I look forward to every week, but that is the most I’ve managed to get out of my membership in the last year.

    Of course by those heels, I’d never doubt your athleticism, heels alone can be a workout!
    http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com/

  2. I’m happy that you had the experience Cee! What an adventure! I think you did well, despite your convictions. I was horrible at sports! I had a vision issue and those chunky glasses way back when didn’t help. HAHAHA Love your jean shorts. Always looks great with a white shirt!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

  3. I LOVE how you style denim shorts, and this outfit is proof of your on-point styling skills. Love the shirt front tucked and the heels are a beautiful addition!! As for your athletic ways? I love that about you, and need to borrow inspiration… I seem to go through spurts and I’m pretty all or nothing. I’m either sitting on my butt, or working out 2-3 hours a day. Haha, there’s really no grey area with me! 😉 Happiest weekend!! xo

    http://www.girlandcloset.com

  4. rebecca says:

    Such a simple but classic outfit! Sorry about your knee – though I agree about having no regrets. It’s always good to stay active! Keep it up! ❤
    Rebecca
    munchies&musings

Cee Fardoe is a thirty-something Canadian blogger who splits her time between Winnipeg and Paris. She is a voracious reader, avid tea-drinker, insatiable wanderer and fashion lover who prefers to dress in black, white and gray.

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