Die son bak fel oor die atletiekveld van Paarl Gimnasium.

The sun bakes fiercely over the athletic field of Paarl Gimnasium.

Die lug is vol opgewondenheid en spanning.

The air is full of excitement and tension.

Die interskole atletiekkompetisie is naby, en die atlete oefen hard.

The interschool athletics competition is near, and the athletes are training hard.

Riaan, 'n hardwerkende seun met groot drome, streel die sweet van sy voorkop af.

Riaan, a hardworking boy with big dreams, wipes the sweat from his forehead.

Hy staan op die veld en kyk na Johan, die skool se ster-atleet.

He stands on the field and looks at Johan, the school's star athlete.

Johan is vinnig en selfversekerd, en dit maak Riaan effens benoud.

Johan is fast and confident, and it makes Riaan slightly anxious.

Riaan wil sy eerste wedloop wen.

Riaan wants to win his first race.

Hy wil wys dat hy ook talent het.

He wants to show that he also has talent.

Maar elke keer as hy aan die spoor stap, voel hy die druk.

But every time he steps onto the track, he feels the pressure.

Hy kyk op na Johan, wat al die rekords breek.

He looks up to Johan, who breaks all the records.

Sy selfvertroue is week, maar sy wil om te wen is sterk.

His self-confidence is weak, but his desire to win is strong.

Annelise is daar, Riaan se beste vriendin.

Annelise is there, Riaan's best friend.

Sy het altyd 'n glimlag vir hom, selfs al het sy haar eie drome.

She always has a smile for him, even though she has her own dreams.

Sy is ywerig oor haar kuns en bereid om te help.

She is passionate about her art and is willing to help.

Annelise besef dat Riaan 'n bietjie ekstra hulp nodig het.

Annelise realizes that Riaan needs a bit of extra help.

"Kom ons oefen saans," stel sy voor.

"Let's practice in the evenings," she suggests.

"Ek kan na jou wedloop kyk, en jy kan my kuns bekyk.

"I can watch your race, and you can look at my art."

"Hulle beland elke middag op die atletiekbaan.

They end up on the athletics track every afternoon.

Annelise gee kort opbeurende woorde en wys vir Riaan hoe om sy vorm te verbeter.

Annelise gives short encouraging words and shows Riaan how to improve his form.

Na ure van oefening stap hulle saam na Annelise se kunsklas.

After hours of practice, they walk together to Annelise's art class.

Riaan bewonder haar werk en beleef 'n wêreld buite die atletiekboog.

Riaan admires her work and experiences a world outside the athletics arc.

Op die dag van die kompetisie is die veld vol mense.

On the day of the competition, the field is full of people.

Studente juig en die Drakensteinberge glim as agtergrond.

Students cheer, and the Drakenstein mountains smile as a backdrop.

Die blou lug dra die klanke van aanmoediging.

The blue sky carries the sounds of encouragement.

Die wedren begin.

The race begins.

Johan staan aan die voorpunt en Riaan reg langs hom.

Johan stands at the forefront and Riaan right next to him.

Die fluitjie blaas.

The whistle blows.

Hardlopers skiet weg.

Runners burst away.

Riaan dryf homself vorentoe.

Riaan drives himself forward.

Sy bors brand en sy bene voel swaar, maar hy onthou Annelise se woorde.

His chest burns and his legs feel heavy, but he remembers Annelise's words.

Met elke tree hoor hy haar aanmoedig.

With every step, he hears her encouragement.

Hy gee alles.

He gives it his all.

Riaan eindig die wedloop tweede.

Riaan finishes the race second.

Die skare juig, nie net vir Johan nie, maar ook vir hom.

The crowd cheers, not just for Johan, but also for him.

Johan stap na Riaan toe en gee hom 'n ferm handdruk.

Johan steps over to Riaan and gives him a firm handshake.

"Goed gedoen," sê hy, met respek in sy oë.

"Well done," he says, with respect in his eyes.

Riaan het nie die wedloop gewen nie, maar hy voel soos 'n wenner.

Riaan didn't win the race, but he feels like a winner.

Hy het iets meer as 'n medalje gewen - selfvertroue.

He has won something more than a medal - confidence.

Met 'n nuwe perspektief stap hy van die baan, na Annelise, wat met 'n breë glimlag wag.

With a new perspective, he steps off the track to Annelise, who waits with a broad smile.

Hy weet nou dat sukses nie net oor wen gaan nie.

He now knows that success is not just about winning.

Dit gaan oor groei en vertroue in jouself, en met die somerson op sy skouers, voel Riaan ligter as ooit.

It's about growth and confidence in yourself, and with the summer sun on his shoulders, Riaan feels lighter than ever.