A little closer to gravity.

I have always wanted full control of my body: to move it however I want, to feel light, to defy gravity.

I started calisthenics in 2021 and treated it like a skill tree. First the muscle-up, then the front lever, then the planche. Every movement unlocked made me want the next one.

But strength wasn’t everything. I wanted perseverance, too, so I became a long-distance runner. My flat feet made it a challenge. That was part of the appeal: I was working on a weakness, and I wanted to earn the right to call myself a runner.

During national service, early trips into the city became an excuse to push further. I went from never running beyond 5 km to a 10 km and a 15 km within 72 hours. Soon I was catching the first train on weekends just to join run clubs.

Then I remembered where this all began: one dance class so humiliating I’d tried to forget it. My original dream wasn’t just to be strong. It was to be fast, flexible and able to endure. It was to dance.

This summer, I went back. This time I brought a different mindset: trust the work, trust that I can learn, and have the courage to be seen. I stood at the front, with nothing between me and the mirror. Learning to look at myself instead of away.

Here I am.