Chapter 39

The person in charge of organizing the National Indoor Athletics Championship is now very troubled. Several team coaches have come to reflect, hoping that top-level athletes do not participate in such small-scale domestic events.

Athletes come to compete for the sake of a medal. However, there are only three medals—gold, silver, and bronze—for each event, yet there are sixty to seventy or even more athletes vying for them. It's already a case of too many wolves and too little meat. Now, a tiger has mixed into the wolf pack, taking the juiciest piece of meat without hesitation, leaving the other wolves who were waiting to share the meat with a belly full of complaints.

For the teams, medals are not just a symbol of honor and the result of training; they are also a guarantee for applying for training funds for the following year. Missing out on a medal in one event means losing a reason to apply for funds next year. This matter, which involves actual interests, has led the teams to spontaneously unite.

Originally, when Liu Feiren won the 60-meter hurdles championship, everyone could still勉强 tolerate it. This time, Zhang Guan came and broke two records right away, which made the coaches of other teams unable to bear it. There are already few events in indoor athletics, and now two gold medals are missing before the competition even starts. This undoubtedly touches everyone's cheese.

At the same time, Zhang Guan was called back to the national team training center by Coach Yu.

After meeting, Coach Yu directly asked, "How is Old Chen doing?"

"His recovery is going well, and he should be able to get out of bed and walk soon," Zhang Guan said.

"Then what about the future? Can he still lead the team?" Coach Yu asked anxiously, as this was the issue he was most concerned about.

Zhang Guan replied with a hint of disappointment, "The doctor said that even after recovery, he won't be able to do the demanding job of a coach anymore."

Coach Yu nodded, a sad expression appearing on his face, with a hint of fear. He was sad for Old Chen, who was forced to leave the track he loved most in his life, a feeling Coach Yu could understand. He was also worried about his own future, fearing that one day he might also have to leave the athletics field. This thought made him feel fearful, as if he were experiencing the sorrow of a fox mourning the death of a rabbit.

After a long while, Coach Yu calmed down and asked, "If Old Chen can't lead the team anymore, what are your plans next?"

Old Chen was Zhang Guan's head coach. If Old Chen left, Zhang Guan would naturally need to change coaches. For Coach Yu and the entire athletics team, finding a new coach for Zhang Guan was a significant matter. With Zhang Guan's current level, an ordinary coach would not be qualified to teach him.

"I don't know," Zhang Guan shook his head and continued, "We'll take it one step at a time! The Olympic training is about to start, and then the Olympics. I don't think I'll have much time to train with the provincial team. Besides, Fudan University has already agreed to admit me. If things don't work out, I'll go to the Xinzhuang training base after the Olympics."

"You still want to go to university?" Coach Yu was taken aback. Most athletes who go to university just hang their names there and continue training as usual. It's possible not to return to school for two or three years. Graduation is often just a formality.

Zhang Guan nodded seriously, "I want to learn English well, so I can use it when I go abroad for competitions."

"That's good, it's a good thing to learn more while you're young," Coach Yu said, then continued, "But you don't need to worry about English. In a few months, the General Administration of Sport will hold training sessions for Olympic athletes, including a crash course in English. If you want to learn, sign up in advance, but you'll have to study at night, as you still need to train during the day."

Coach Yu finished speaking, picked up a file, and handed it to Zhang Guan, saying, "This is this year's athletics competition schedule. Take a look. Last summer, we planned to have you participate in as many competitions as possible to familiarize yourself with the atmosphere and gain experience. However, since you broke the Asian 100-meter record, it's not meaningful for you to participate in domestic events with your current level. The level of domestic events is relatively low, and competing with low-level athletes for a long time is not beneficial to your growth. So I think you should only participate in the last two stations of the National Athletics Grand Prix before the Olympics."

Zhang Guan looked at the competition schedule in his hand. The first event was the National Youth and Junior Athletics Championships on April 9th, where athletes aged 18 and 19 compete in the youth category, and those aged 16 and 17 in the junior category. By age, Zhang Guan could participate in the youth category, but as the holder of the Asian record, it was clearly inappropriate for him to do so.

Next were the series of National Athletics Grand Prix events. The first station on April 17th and the second station on April 22nd were both held in Guangxi Province in the southwest, and athletes from the east and north generally did not participate. The third station on May 1st in Jinling was not too far for Zhang Guan, but it was also optional. The last two stations were held on July 17th in the capital and on July 30th in Tianjin, and the fifth station was also the National Athletics Open for the year.

In addition, before the Olympics, there was another competition, the National Athletics Championships and Olympic Trials, held on May 20th in Shizhuang. According to the Olympic rules for the year, the deadline for athletes to meet the standards was in July, so the Olympic Trials on May 20th were a great opportunity for athletes to secure their Olympic qualifications.

Coach Yu continued, "The Athens Olympics open on August 13th, and our country's Olympic delegation is expected to arrive in Athens on August 8th or 9th. The confirmation of Olympic participants should be around mid-July. So, your participation in the last two stations of the National Athletics Grand Prix is mainly to maintain your form and avoid getting rusty from not competing for a long time. Also, next month's national team training will be closed, and to avoid distractions, all mobile phones will be collected, so you won't be able to contact your family. Make sure to inform your family in advance to avoid worrying them."

...

After the National Indoor Athletics Championship ended, Zhang Guan returned to the provincial capital.

Provincial Hospital.

Perhaps influenced by Zhang Guan's two record-breaking performances in one day, Old Chen's mood seemed quite good. The doctor also indicated that Old Chen's recovery was very optimistic, and he would be discharged soon.

The provincial capital in February was still cold, with the air still carrying the chill of winter. As a northern city, centralized heating usually ends in mid-March, so the ward was not cold at all, and even a bit warm.

"Go open the window a bit, I feel a bit hot," Old Chen said, and Zhang Guan immediately got up and went to the window to open it slightly.

"Have the willows outside sprouted yet?" Old Chen suddenly asked.

"Not yet, but they will soon. I think they'll sprout next month," Zhang Guan replied, seemingly unintentionally.

"Spring is coming..." Old Chen said, then changed his tone, "I know that after I am discharged this time, I will have to retire completely and can no longer be a coach."

Zhang Guan's hand on the window suddenly paused, a strange sense of sorrow rising in his heart. He knew how sad and helpless it was for an old man who had dedicated his life to athletics to leave the track.

Zhang Guan wanted to comfort Old Chen but didn't know what to say.

The room fell into a silence, and the cold wind blew in through the window, making Zhang Guan's face feel numb.

"Old Chen..."

Zhang Guan was about to say something but was interrupted by Old Chen.

"Zhang Guan, you are the most outstanding athlete I have ever seen. I don't know where your limits are, but I believe you will become the best athlete in the world," Old Chen said slowly but clearly and firmly.

He looked at Zhang Guan with hope and continued, "You are still young, and your future is long, but I, this old man, won't have the chance to accompany you anymore."

"Our generation talked about dedication. My choice of sports was very simple, not for money, not for fame, but simply to bring glory to the country! But your generation is different. I'm not saying your generation lacks a spirit of dedication, but talking about dedication to your generation might be outdated, and bringing glory to the country has become a formality."

"But I still hope you can bring glory to the country. Now you have the opportunity to enter the world stage, and I want to witness the moment you stand at the pinnacle of the world. I want to see the Five-Star Red Flag flying at the Olympic athletics field, and I want to hear our national anthem played at the award ceremony."

"This is my lifelong dream, but I haven't achieved it. I really hope you can help me fulfill this dream..."

"Old Chen, I will definitely win the Olympic gold medal, I promise!" Zhang Guan turned around, his expression very determined, but his eyes were slightly moist.

Old Chen took a deep breath, slowly leaned back on the bed, looking content, and said in a low voice, "Being able to have you as my disciple is the greatest achievement of my life!"

Zhang Guan walked to the bedside and slowly sat down, "Old Chen, being your disciple is the greatest honor of my life..."

...

Old Chen retired and left the track he loved.

He left the provincial capital and returned to his hometown to enjoy his retirement, growing flowers and raising fish, just like an ordinary person.

Watching the car carrying Old Chen slowly drive away, Zhang Guan's heart was filled with reluctance and sorrow. He held back his tears and clenched his fists.

"Old Chen, at the Beijing Olympics four years from now, I will definitely bring you to the scene to see the flag rise with my own eyes!"

...

An era has ended, but a new era has just begun!

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This is the second chapter of today, thank you all for your support, which has pushed the book to the top of the new author list. Thanks! This chapter marks the end of the first volume of the book. Next, the Olympic plot will begin. This time, Zhang Guan will face world-class opponents, and the female lead will also appear. The plot will be richer, so stay tuned. I said I would add a chapter yesterday, so there will be another chapter tonight.

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