Goldengirl

‘I think I see where this is leading,’ Cobb said to Dryden. ‘After the San Diego meet, she was billed as the mystery blonde nobody had heard of who showed world-class form and then disappeared again. That was fine for San Diego. It’s a good start for Eugene. Have you seen the papers, gentlemen? She isn’t headline news, but more than one gives her a mention.’ He took a paper from his case. ‘This is the San Francisco Examiner Chronicle. I quote: “Spice is added to the women’s sprints by the entry of Goldine Serafin, who posted outstanding times in all three events in a single afternoon in San Diego last month. Track nuts, unable to trace previous performances in first-class track by this Bakersfield blonde, are keen to get a look at Miss Serafin.” She’s still the mystery runner, you see. But the point about mysteries is that people want them solved. Once Goldengirl runs here and proves how good she is, everyone will want to know how she kept her form secret so long, and why. I agree we must cut the training camp from the story, but we need to put something in its place.’

‘What’s wrong with saying she’s just one hell of a runner who never took up the sport till now?’ demanded Valenti. ‘Maybe you or I could win the Olympics, but we never tried. America is full of undiscovered runners. Track’s a minority sport.’

Cobb shook his head. ‘It’s going to be obvious to anyone that Goldengirl is coached. She didn’t learn the rocket start in Dr. Serafin’s backyard. And she has to be superfit to get through — how many races is it she’s running here?’

‘Twelve,’ said Dryden. Cobb was emerging as an unexpected ally. It would be interesting to see how Serafin received this line of argument. He extended it a little himself. ‘I think what we’re coming around to is admitting that Goldine has had expert coaching, and trained extremely hard for the trials. Is there any reason why we shouldn’t tell the press about Klugman?’

There was a pause. Serafin took off his glasses and wiped them. He looked ten years older without them. ‘It’s not a point I had fully considered,’ he said. ‘I thought it advisable in the interests of security to keep Klugman’s name out of it.’

‘But why?’ asked Cobb. ‘We’re not trying to prove she’s Superwoman, are we? There’s nothing to be ashamed of in having a coach.’

‘I must say I have reservations about this,’ said Serafin. ‘My idea has always been that we would attribute her success to natural ability.’

‘So we hired Klugman to bring out the ability,’ said Sternberg. ‘Every jock needs a coach. I don’t see where the conflict is.’

‘You think Klugman is a risk?’ asked Valenti, adding suspiciously, ‘What is it with Klugman? Does he have a police record?’

‘No, no,’ said Serafin, obviously sensing the current of opinion against him. ‘I’ve nothing against Klugman. Perhaps you are right, Mr. Cobb. I was being unrealistic. We may as well admit that he has helped her.’

‘That seems to be agreed, then,’ said Dryden. ‘I think the spotlight will be centered steadily on Goldine. Once she has said Klugman is her coach, there won’t be a lot of interest in him. He’ll need to be briefed, of course, but that can be taken care of. The other question Mr. Cobb raised was possibly more important. How do we explain her meteoric rise to world class?’

Serafin quickly answered, ‘I’m sorry if I seem to be repeating myself, but the only explanation is that she is an outstanding natural athlete who first took to the sport seriously this year. It couldn’t happen in any other event but the sprints, and you must take my word for that as a physiologist. Sprinting is an inborn ability. Some of America’s most brilliant sprinters over the years spent more time on football than track technique. If the press want to know why Goldengirl avoided competition, it was because she didn’t consider herself ready for it before June. Believe me, she will give satisfactory answers to questions of this kind.’

‘Those of us who saw her in the press-simulation session need no convincing of that,’ said Dryden. ‘To sum up so far, then, we’re presenting Goldine as a girl whose childhood was scarred by tragedy, but who now emerges as a naturally gifted athlete who took to sprinting this year. Dr. Serafin recognised her potential and hired Klugman to coach her. She’s totally surprised and elated by the success she’s had, but determined to win for America in Moscow if she can. Is there anything anyone would wish to add?’ He looked generally around the table, but the question was directed at Serafin. Nothing had been said about Nazi eugenics, nor trends in human growth. If he was right, and Serafin planned to use Goldine to justify his theories, this was a chance to build them into the sell. So long as the rest of the consortium collected their two million apiece, they wouldn’t be bothered whether Goldengirl proved Aryan superiority, or anything else.

But the only contribution came from Sternberg. ‘Yeah. How do we get the sex thing in?’