Sarah, 27, is a member of the National Athletics team, trying to beat the Olympic qualifying time for her event- the 400m. Her inspiration is her late mother who endured all manner of humiliation in a poor township to protect her daughter and give her a chance of a better life. Her coach, Chris, a former champion high jumper from South Africa, who was denied international competition by international sanctions, is driving her on but her race times continue to hover outside what’s needed. Chris’s patience and her tolerance to his borderline abusive behaviour decreasing until emotions explode. He doubts her commitment and she, his skills. Reconciling though, he concedes his short falls and explains that’s part of why only she can shave the fraction of a second she needs. By herself and timed by Tony, another certified coach, she decides to give it her all. Tapping deep into the pain of her mother’s sacrifices, and her own desire to win, she starts without blocks and in normal training shoes without spikes. When she crosses the line, Tony - a secret admirer - is ecstatic to show her that she’s smashed the time. With blocks and spikes, she probably would have broken the world record! After a prayer to her mother, overjoyed, she rushes to Chris’s office where the team doctor also offers muted congratulations before he and Chris tell her devastating news about her health which destroys all hope of Olympic participation and will shortly bring to an end her promising young life…