By: Katherine Reutter

By: Katherine Reutter

By: Katherine Reutter

By: Katherine Reutter

Say hello to Katherine Reutter, a short-track speedskater with gold-medal potential. The Champaign native has been kind enough to give us an inside look at her quest for Olympic glory by writing a monthly diary for The News-Gazette. Her seventh entry:

The Olympic Games are less than one month away. I'm scared out of my mind!

The thing that's kept me grounded is the idea that it will be just like any other race. I still cling to that because I know I can do well in World Cups, I know the competition won't be any different than what I'm up against at World Championships, and so far the media has been my friend so I shouldn't have anything to worry about there.

And yet I find it hard to sleep.

I have a recurring dream before every competition and it's that I waited too long to pack my bags. I end up making it to the airport with minutes to spare and only the bare essentials for competing, but the coach is always waiting for me saying, "No, it's fine. The alternate is already here. She can take your spot."

Even though we don't leave for Vancouver for another two weeks I'm already dreaming that the plane is going to fly away without me!

The hardest part about all of this is the fact that I can't do anything more to prepare. The work is done and the knowledge is there. In less than a month I'll know if I'm strong enough and smart enough to be an Olympic champion. Until then I have to make sure that everything I do is optimal, whether it be recovery, nutrition or training.

I'm on my last recovery week of training right now. After this we'll have two weeks of training focused on intensity and one week of a true taper. While dealing with all this anxiety I would love nothing more than to go for a run ... but that's exactly what I'm not allowed to do.

I would also love to have a big piece of chocolate ...

Diary No. 1 - link

Diary No. 2 - link

Diary No. 3 - link

Diary No. 4 - link

Diary No. 5 - link

Diary No. 6 - link