Chapter 94

Japan, Yokohama.

"You look pretty tired," Zhang Guan said to Liu Feiren beside him.

Liu Feiren nodded: "I came back on the 16th, had a day off on the 17th, and started training on the 18th. After just three days of training, I came to Japan. After I get back, I still have to participate in the final of the National Athletics Grand Prix. Fortunately, there won't be any major competitions after the final until the end of the year, so I can rest and adjust my state."

"Yeah, it seems you're much busier than me. I just recorded a song and shot an advertisement, and I didn't even leave the city. Unlike you, who runs all over China," Zhang Guan said with a smile.

"I wish I could train steadily, but some activities are just impossible to refuse!" Liu Feiren leaned closer to Zhang Guan and whispered, "Did you really set up your own management team?"

Zhang Guan nodded: "Yeah, I almost had a fight with the association over this."

Liu Feiren looked at Zhang Guan with envy and said, "When I first heard about your management team, I thought it was fake. Later, I found out it was true. I never thought the center would allow you to set up your own management team. But I heard that the diving prince almost had a falling out with the swimming association over the management issue."

"Actually, both sides' positions can be understood. No association wants their athletes to go solo, as it's not easy to train a champion. Athletes know they have a limited career, so they want to earn as much as possible while they're young. Otherwise, the best they can hope for after retirement is a job in a public institution," Zhang Guan said.

"Yeah, the diving prince has a good image. Even if he doesn't continue as an athlete, he can become an actor or something. As long as he stays in the media, he can earn money, which is better than a fixed salary," Liu Feiren said.

"Being an actor isn't easy either. If you perform poorly, you get criticized. If the show is bad, you get criticized. Sometimes, even if you become famous, you still get criticized," Zhang Guan said, looking at Liu Feiren and teasing him, "You look pretty good. You can become an actor after retirement. I believe in you!"

"Hehe, retirement? It's still early! I plan to run until I'm 40," Liu Feiren said with a smile.

Liu Feiren's words made Zhang Guan feel a bit sentimental. He remembered how Liu Feiren looked so desolate and helpless when he announced his retirement, crying so sadly. Before he got to know Liu Feiren, Zhang Guan might have thought he was putting on a show, but after getting to know him, Zhang Guan knew how much Liu Feiren loved hurdling and that he always had a champion's heart.

At this moment, the car slowed down, indicating they were almost at their destination. Zhang Guan looked out the window and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. We're almost there. The reporters will interview us soon, so let's think about how to handle them!"

...

The official broadcaster for this Yokohama International Athletics All-Star Game was TBS, so Zhang Guan and Liu Feiren had to be interviewed by TBS before the event.

This kind of interview was always pre-arranged. When Zhang Guan received the interview outline, he saw about a dozen questions, mainly about his Olympic victory in Athens, as well as a few personal life and impression of Japan questions. Zhang Guan thought the content was extensive but mostly routine. He had already been interviewed dozens of times in China about his Olympic victory and personal life, so he knew exactly what to say. As for the impression of Japan, it was just a matter of saying some polite words, which he could easily adapt to any country.

However, just as the interview was about to end, an unexpected question was asked by the TBS host.

"Zhang Guan, do you oppose the use of performance-enhancing drugs?" the host asked.

For athletes, any question about performance-enhancing drugs is like a bomb. The host must have had a hidden agenda, and it was clear that TBS had no good intentions.

Zhang Guan did not expect the host to ask a question outside the outline, and this was the first time someone had asked him about performance-enhancing drugs. In China, the media would never ask such a question to an Olympic champion.

Without hesitation, Zhang Guan said, "Of course, I firmly oppose the use of performance-enhancing drugs! As an athlete, I work hard to improve, and if someone uses unethical means to achieve good results, it is definitely unfair."

"Then, if there was a drug that could improve your performance to under 9.7 seconds or even 9.6 seconds, would you take it?" the host pressed.

"Definitely not," Zhang Guan said, feeling annoyed by the impolite host. He couldn't help but add, "9.6 seconds is an impossible achievement for Japanese athletes, as none of them have run under 10 seconds. In your view, it seems that performance-enhancing drugs are necessary to achieve this. But for me, running under 9.6 seconds is not out of reach. I might achieve it at some point in the future."

The host's face turned red. She didn't expect Zhang Guan's response to be so sharp, leaving no room for Japanese pride. She was about to ask another question, but Zhang Guan preempted her, "I know you might doubt my answer, but don't forget that I am currently the fastest person in the world. If anyone can run under 9.6 seconds, I am the most authoritative person to speak on this."

Zhang Guan pretended to look at his watch, then stood up and said, "Alright, it's about time. I think our interview can end here."

The host sighed as she watched Zhang Guan leave. She had been in the industry for years and knew the rules. She realized she had offended Zhang Guan, but before the interview, TBS had received a verbal request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask Zhang Guan about performance-enhancing drugs, to stir up the topic a bit.

...

Although the interview was over, Zhang Guan's mood was not good. He felt the Japanese host had no respect for the rules.

"Liu, when you came to Japan for competitions before, were the Japanese reporters like this?" Zhang Guan asked.

Liu Feiren thought for a moment and shook his head, "No, although they sometimes ask questions out of order or beyond the interview outline, they never ask about performance-enhancing drugs. Such questions are very sensitive, and under normal circumstances, no reporter would deliberately ask them."

For athletes, when reporters ask about performance-enhancing drugs, it usually means there is a hidden agenda. Reporters ask such questions either because there has been a recent scandal or because the athlete is suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. Asking such a question without any indication is a very impolite act, violating the unwritten rules of sports journalism.

"TBS is the official designated broadcaster. They dared to ask such a question, which must have been at the behest of the organizers. It seems the Japanese have no good intentions!" Zhang Guan's eyes flashed with a cold light as he quickly analyzed the Japanese motives.

...

The American team's Greene and Gatlin arrived in Yokohama earlier.

"Another match against Zhang Guan! Finally, I can get my revenge! I've been waiting for this for almost a month!" Greene clenched his fists, his face full of anticipation.

Since losing in the Athens Olympics, Greene had been harboring a grudge. He wanted to take revenge on Zhang Guan, but Zhang Guan did not participate in the IAAF Grand Prix or similar events. If Greene wanted to face Zhang Guan again, he would have to wait until next year. For the fiery-tempered Greene, waiting was not an option. When he heard about the Yokohama All-Star Game, he eagerly decided to participate, determined to settle the score with Zhang Guan.

Gatlin walked over from a distance and said, "I just saw the online poll. Both you and I have over 40% support, while Zhang Guan has less than 10%."

"Online polls in the U.S. don't mean much. If you polled in China, 99% would vote for Zhang Guan. In the end, it all comes down to the competition, where we will decide the winner by our performance!" Greene said.

"It's not just our U.S. websites. European media are saying the same thing," Gatlin said, tossing a few newspapers in front of Greene.

"New Olympic Champion to Face a Setback"

"Is Zhang Guan's Luck Running Out? Athletics All-Star Game to Test His Mettle"

"Survey: 80% of London Residents Think Zhang Guan Is Just a Flash in the Pan"

"Fraudulent Olympic Champion? Can Zhang Guan Prove His Worth?"

"Huh?" Greene furrowed his brow and muttered, "What's going on? These idiotic media outlets, no one who can run under 9.8 seconds is a fraud! Even if Zhang Guan is Asian, they shouldn't be so pessimistic about him!"

"Doesn't it seem like the media is steering the narrative in a certain direction?" Gatlin whispered, "Have you noticed that most of these are British media or引用的英国报道?"

"British? What are those arrogant guys up to?" Greene asked, puzzled.

Gatlin moved closer and lowered his voice, "From what I know, there's a British senior official in the IAAF named Sebastian, who doesn't like Chinese athletes."

"Sebastian? What's his background?" Greene asked.

"A conservative politician, he holds positions in the IOC and IAAF, and is one of the key figures in London's bid for the next Olympics. If London wins the bid next year, he is likely to become the chairman of the London Organizing Committee."

---

Chapter 1 delivered, please give a recommendation.

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