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Vashti Cunningham's Olympic journey
2:28
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LAS VEGAS -- Right arm hangs in a checked dangle. Left arm is bent at a 90-degree angle and partially covering her spare torso. Eyes on the foe: that delicate, goading bar. She stares at it, and it peers back. She oscillates a few times, toes to heels, homing in balance and acquiring an assured state of mind as she's waiting for her left, back heel to fall just perfectly on itself, allowing her spindly body to click into launch .