"I look forward to it. He's great competition," JJ answered. He was not bothered by the fact that people who had all beat him now would be there, competing next year. Some of JJ's skill was natural, but he mostly worked hard for what he had. That meant he'd have to work harder, get better, and come up with something that exceeded what he had done this past competition. And he'd have to get over whatever it was that was holding him back.

"I like to compete against Viktor," he said, "and I like standing on the podium with him." Of course, now he meant he'd be the one standing on the tallest part.