Liam loved curling. Ever since he tried it at the local ice rink, he was hooked. He loved the smooth glide of the stone, the way the sweepers controlled its speed, and the excitement of getting it just right.

Jack was the fastest player on his lacrosse team. He could run faster, pass smoother, and score more goals than anyone else. Every game, the team relied on him.

“Jack, you have to score!”
“Jack, we need you!”
“Jack, don’t mess this up!”

At first, it felt exciting. He loved hearing the cheers when he scored the winning goal. But as the season went on, something changed. The fun faded. Now, every time he stepped onto the field, he felt the weight of everyone’s expectations pressing on his shoulders.

In a small town nestled between rolling hills, lived a girl named Vladina. She loved tennis more than anything. She loved the way the ball bounced off the court, the feeling of a perfect serve, and the excitement of a fast-paced rally.

But there was one problem—Vladina’s Aunt Mira, who took care of her, couldn’t afford tennis lessons or a fancy racket.

Kim could hardly sit still. Tonight was the big game! The Willow Wildcats were playing against their biggest rivals, the Maple Hawks, and Kim had been practicing for weeks.

She had her lucky floorball stick, her jersey was freshly washed, and her water bottle was packed. She was ready.

But outside, the sky was dark and heavy with rain. It had been pouring all afternoon, turning the roads into puddles and the fields into mud.

In the bustling town of Riverdale, where rugby was the pride of every school, lived a boy named Leo. He loved rugby more than anything, but there was one problem—he was the smallest player on the team.

Naomi loved archery. Every weekend, she and her dad drove to the local range, where she practiced releasing arrow after arrow toward the large, colorful targets. She loved the thwack of an arrow hitting its mark and the focus archery required. While Naomi had fun practicing, she often grew frustrated when her arrows didn’t hit the bullseye. Her dad always reminded her, “Archery isn’t just about hitting the target—it’s about staying calm and focused.”

Ben loved baseball. Every afternoon, he and his friends played at the neighborhood park, running bases and swinging for the fences. His favorite position was outfielder, where he could sprint across the field and dive for fly balls. Ben was fast and loved the feeling of catching the ball mid-air, but when he joined his school’s baseball team, things felt a lot more serious.

Ethan loved riding his bike. Every day after school, he sped through the neighborhood, racing his friends or exploring new trails in the woods. He loved the freedom of cycling—the rush of the wind in his face and the thrill of zooming downhill. But when his school announced a cycling race, Ethan hesitated.

Lila and her twin brother, Leo, were inseparable, and one of their favorite activities was playing table tennis in their basement. They’d set up their paddles and take turns smashing shots back and forth, laughing whenever a ball flew wildly off course. Over time, they both got pretty good—so good, in fact, that their games often ended in ties.

Amir loved karate. Every week, he practiced his punches, kicks, and katas with his classmates at the dojo. His dream was to earn his yellow belt, the first big step on his journey to becoming a black belt. But as the date of the belt test approached, Amir began to feel nervous.

Liam loved hockey. Ever since he could walk, he had skated on the frozen pond behind his house, dreaming of becoming a star player like his favorite NHL heroes. He practiced every day after school, shooting pucks into a net set up in his backyard and racing around the ice to sharpen his speed.

Sofia loved gymnastics. She spent hours practicing at the gym, flipping on the balance beam, soaring over the vault, and twirling gracefully on the floor. Her favorite event, though, was the uneven bars. She felt like she was flying whenever she swung between the bars, twisting and turning in midair. But there was one skill Sofia struggled with: the dismount.

Ella loved basketball. Every day after school, she practiced shooting hoops in her driveway, dreaming of becoming the star player on her school team. She could dribble fast, pass with precision, and land layups most of the time. But there was one thing she struggled with: free throws.

Sammy was the fastest kid in his neighborhood—or at least that’s what he loved to believe. He spent every afternoon racing his friends through the park, his sneakers pounding the dirt path as he laughed and ran. But Sammy had never competed in a real race before, and when his teacher announced the school’s annual track meet, his excitement turned into nervous butterflies.

Lila loved soccer. Every afternoon after school, she’d race to the park, ball in hand, ready to practice her dribbling, passing, and shooting. She had big dreams of becoming the best soccer player in her town, maybe even the whole country! But there was one small problem: Lila didn’t believe in herself.