I re-read this book yesterday and I still love it as much as the first time. 
 I love the focus that Sal has on her sport and how this is a big part of the story. 
 I find it interesting that we don't ever find out what was going on with Kulti, we can guess that he was depressed after his career finished but there was never a big cathartic scene where it all comes out and gets resolved. 
 The connection between Sal and Kulti grows slowly with very little sexual tension but rather it goes from dislike, to friendship, to affection, to caring, and then onto support and love..... then sex. Surprisingly this really worked for me.