Balestra

: We get one shot.

One chance at true greatness.

Carve your name into the universe.

: The American dream.

You are the lightest feather.

You are a diamond shard.

This is it.

Your time.

Perfection is all that matters.

Distance, watch your distance.

Don't flinch.

Pick the moment and reel her in.

Strike first.

Fuck!

And she saw it.

Before you made a move,

before you even took your mark.

Milliseconds...

Everything that happens was written eons ago.

: Jo, are you up?

Jo?

- Good morning. - Morning!

I cued up some tape for you, one last-minute run-through can't hurt.

Yeah.

How'd you sleep?

Fine, I guess.

It was better with the melatonin.

Well, the melatonin makes you slow.

I know.

We could try the valerian root again.

We'll just let it steep a little longer this time.

You know, insomnia can be caused by stress.

What?

Are you worried, bijou?

Hmm?

What if it's too soon?

I mean, she's on a tear.

Bangkok put her in the top three.

She can't stop winning.

Mm-hmm.

And who does that remind you of?

Come on! It's a warmup.

I don't want her to be my first,

not after all this time.

Not Audie, not her.

I thought we had a plan.

Ramping up. Denver, division two...

You know, getting back my points.

Yeah, you need to ramp up,

but the end goal is still the Paris Olympics

with the gold around your neck.

And the road to that podium is through Audie Zimmer.

It's a friendly match. Come on!

You have ten years on her.

She's like a bug on your windshield.

But, you know, if you don't want to do it this morning, we don't have to.

We'll do something else. We'll go for a bike ride.

Let's go kill the kid.

There she is!

I bet anything Owen taught her how to feint.

Hey, you're gonna attack high.

But watch your blind spot, OK?

She's bouncy, but predictable.

Like, yeah, if I'm down...

I could grid up and win, but why was I down by nine points?

You like the drama.

I do like the drama.

If I may, you all have the good fortune today

of seeing a World Cup winner in the flesh.

But we have two more distinguished guests.

Raph Caron, Olympic medalist,

individual men's foil, London 2012.

It was bronze. It was bronze, come on.

And his wife and student, Joanna Bathory.

Hi!

American fencing has had its share of stars in the last decades.

But few shine as bright as Joanna,

who was once our hope for Olympic gold.

You can't just aim high.

You have to aim for the top of Mount Everest.

Otherwise, what's the point?

Love of the game?

Love. Love's important.

Love will get you out of bed in the morning,

but love is not gonna get you a medal.

Not even a brown one.

The mentality of a champion.

Not for the faint of heart.

No, it isn't, but I'm not a champion.

That's not my lot in life.

My real joy comes from helping other people win.

: You used to coach more people, though.

We will make time for Q and A later,

but first, we have a surprise for you all.

A 15-touch bout.

Bathory versus Zimmer.

Ladies, if you'd like to make your way to the armory.

: Go get 'em!

Owen, good to see you.

So what made you walk away?

2019, the World Cup in Cairo.

That was the last time you competed.

Was it?

You were gonna take us to Tokyo.

Let me guess.

You had a kid?

No.

So you hurt yourself, then?

No.

Just needed a break, huh?

Yeah, something like that.

I get it.

I remember watching you do drills at Sheridan.

Seeing you wreck everyone at the NACs.

I was so jealous of you,

your talent.

But Raph always told me in our sessions,

"You're climbing a mountain. Nothing happens overnight."

Your sessions?

Yeah, he trained me one-on-one.

God, I was so bummed when he sold the gym.

Don't get me wrong. Owen has been brilliant.

Raph was special, though.

He knew how to push you.

You're so lucky to have him.

Yeah.

- Good luck out there. - You too.

: Here we go.

En garde.

Prêtes.

Allez!

Halt!

1-0.

En garde.

Prêtes.

Allez!

Halt!

2-0.

En garde.

Prêtes. Allez!

Halt!

1-2.

: Fuck.

En garde. Prêtes.

Allez!

Halt! 2-2.

Halt!

7-2.

Halt!

7-4.

Halt!

13-4.

Halt!

14-4.

En garde.

Prêtes.

Allez!

Halt!

Match.

Zimmer wins 15-4.

Ladies, thank you very much for your time.

Raph, Owen, always a pleasure.

Hey, it doesn't matter what she said.

You fenced like a fucking amateur.

Where were you? Where was your head?

You trained her on one-on-one?

What does it matter?

I had a lot of students, Jo.

And you were the one I bet on.

Look, we've got Denver in a week,

so lock in.

Let's get to work.

Here.

Come on!

Faster than that.

Let's go! Quick feet!

Look at your arm, extend.

- Good! Again! - Yeah.

Extend! No, too slow.

Work on that lunge. There it is!

25 reps, then we do legs.

All right, let's go.

Point control, Jo!

You're exposed.

Too slow!

Let's go.

Come on, push it! Attack!

Come on! Hit me!

I want to show you something here.

These are your reaction times in the drills.