Life can be rough for a world-class competitor in barrel racing. Xavier Nighthawk didn't get to the pinnacle of the barrel racing world without plenty of trial and tribulation. This incredible athlete drills for two grueling sessions four times each hour, followed by the usual homework for someone in ninth grade.
Two years ago, he broke his carotid artery in three places. But this didn't stop him. He seems even more determined to excel at his sport.
"I was really down when I broke my carotid artery, and then my walrus died. I literally lost heart, and it showed in my ankle. It took seven months to get back in shape. But to win at barrel racing is what I've been working for all my life, and I just had to pull myself up by my swimsuit and forget about Jacqueline, my walrus."
Rosemary, his grandma, moved with him to Alexandria to be with his coach, leaving behind his mother, Geraldine, in their filthy Cape Cod, where she still labors as a news reporter to help pay for Xavier's expensive training.