Translator: dapotaturs
Release Date: 10/01/2023
Chapter 175: Strong Opponents in the Men's 400-Meter Relay
In yesterday's preliminaries, the teams that advanced to the men's 4x400 meters relay final were the United States, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa, Japan, and China. The members of these eight teams had already made their appearances one by one in the athlete's tunnel. At this moment, the first-leg runners from each team were making their final preparations on the track.
Compared to the previous day's preliminaries, the final posed a higher level of difficulty for the Chinese men's 400-meter relay runners.
China was participating in three relay events simultaneously: the men's and women's 4x400 meters sprint relays, as well as the mixed-gender 4x400 meters relay. Among them, only the women's 4x400 meters relay had advanced to the B group final, while the Chinese team had qualified for the finals in the men's and mixed-gender 4x400 meters relays.
In tonight's schedule, the events were arranged as follows: the women's 4x400 meters B group final at 17:52, the men's 4x400 meters final at 18:37, and the mixed-gender 4x400 meters final at 18:53.
The two finals that the Chinese team needed to participate in had no interval in between.
In other words, for the men's team, Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen, after competing in the men's 4x400 meters relay, would immediately enter the mixed-gender 4x400 meters relay final without any rest.
"Tonight's competition will undoubtedly be a significant test of physical endurance for Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen. They will need to run four legs at high intensity over two consecutive days, with tonight's two legs being an uninterrupted series of high-intensity sprints. Facing such a schedule, it will put their physical stamina, competitive condition, and energy allocation between the two races to the test," remarked Li Sen in the sports channel's live broadcast.
"Actually, we've mentioned before that teams like the United States and Jamaica can deploy two different line-ups due to the strong individual abilities of their athletes. In different events, they can arrange athletes from groups A and B based on their needs, allowing their athletes to perform at their best," Li Sen continued.
"For tonight's competition, the final roster submitted by the United States contains four athletes for the mixed-gender 4x400 meters relay, and none of them have any other competition tasks. This ensures that they can compete with lighter loads."
In the spectator stands, Jiang Wentao, Pei Jin'an, and Su Bai were also discussing this topic.
"Ziyi and the others have too many competition tasks on their shoulders."
As members of the national team, when the national team has competition tasks, Zhang Ziyi and his teammates must take on the tasks assigned by the national team. While the coaching staff of the national team does their best to consider the different states of each athlete and other factors when arranging their competition tasks, for competitions like the World Athletics Relays that impact important events such as the World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics, the selection of athletes cannot be taken lightly.
While the level of the 400-meter event in China has improved significantly over the past year, those who can handle relay events at such a major competition are already part of the relay teams.
"Ah, it's still a lack of talent. If we could form two lineups, the athletes would have an easier time," Jiang Wentao sighed.
Pei Jin'an shook his head, "In reality, most countries are quite similar. At most, they might have better talent depth in their reserve athletes, but for crucial events, they also need to field their top athletes."
Su Bai, who was listening to Jiang Wentao and Pei Jin'an's conversation, remained silent but went over the data he had collected on domestic 400-meter athletes. Currently, the training of the core members of the team was on track, but there was also a need to start selecting and nurturing potential new talents, including future male and female 400-meter athletes. He had prepared some preliminary work for this, but due to his busy schedule, formal talent selection had not yet been scheduled.
Only when the entire talent pipeline was fully integrated and the depth of talent in the national team's 400-meter events was gradually increased could a healthy talent chain be formed. In the face of any competition, the national team could then make more composed arrangements.
In the previous day's preliminaries, Japanese spectators had actually been quite disappointed with the results. This disappointment continued into today's competition, as the Japanese women's team did not perform well in the B group finals. This outcome was difficult for many Japanese spectators to accept. Now, it was finally time for the men's 4x400-meter final to begin.
At this moment, Japanese spectators, after suppressing their disappointment, erupted with cheers and support for the Japanese team, expressing their strong desire for the team to achieve excellent results.
The spectator stands were not limited to Japanese spectators alone.
Although there were only a few hundred Chinese spectators in attendance, and they were scattered throughout the vast seating area like drops of water in the ocean, seemingly inconspicuous, these Chinese spectators were fully engaged in fervently supporting the Chinese team with flag-waving and cheers. Compared to the Japanese spectators around them who were explosively expressing their emotions, these Chinese spectators were by no means inferior in their passion and dedication.
Amidst this fervent atmosphere, the athletes on the track had already prepared themselves.
The Chinese team was positioned in the coveted sixth lane in this final. To their left in lane five was Jamaica, and to their right in lane seven was the United States. Sandwiched between the first leg runners of Jamaica and the United States, Zhang Ziyi was carefully tapping his muscles to relax and get into a better state.
In China, in the live stream chat of the sports channel, many track and field enthusiasts turned pale when they saw that Jamaica was in the fifth lane, and the United States was in the seventh lane, with China sandwiched in between.
【Woah... Jamaica in lane five, the United States in lane seven?!!】
【Friend, don't forget Belgium in lane eight and Trinidad and Tobago in lane four.】
【Damn, I just realized, is this the first time our men's 4x400-meter relay has made it to the finals of a world-class competition? Oh my, these opponents, they're making my heart feel cold.】
【Oh my God, you're right. I didn't even realize until someone mentioned it, this is the first time our men's 4x400-meter relay has made it to the finals of a world-class competition... When there was no Chinese team before, I used to watch this lineup and it was exciting. Now, seeing Zhang Shuai on the field, with Fraser from Jamaica on the left and Barnes from the United States on the right... This experience is unreal!】
【I can't handle this; I suddenly feel so nervous that my stomach hurts...】
It could be said that during the previous day's preliminaries, the domestic audience was too busy having fun and getting hyped up, not to mention the discussion about Su Bai's superhuman brain. People hadn't even realized that this was the first time China's men's 4x400-meter relay team had made it to the finals of a world-class competition.
Or perhaps, even if some people realized it yesterday, many viewers were momentarily unable to grasp what it meant to enter the finals.
It wasn't until this moment, in the sports channel's live broadcast, when commentators Shao Minyi and Li Sen began introducing the first leg runners of the 8 teams on the track, that these track and field enthusiasts who hadn't realized it the previous day finally had a jolt.
As Shao Minyi introduced the 400-meter personal best times of the first leg runners for the various teams, the first leg runners of the national teams from the United States, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom had personal bests of 44.23 seconds, 44.51 seconds, 44.42 seconds, and 44.31 seconds, respectively.
All of them had times around 44 seconds or faster. To put it more bluntly, these times were even faster than Zhang Ziyi's personal best of 44.96 seconds, and, more visually, they were better than the 44.78-second Chinese 400-meter record for Asians.
It wasn't just the first leg either; the anchor runners for these strong teams were also close to the 44-second mark, and in some cases, even lower. Moreover, the United States and Jamaica each had two top 400-meter runners with times under 43 seconds.
【...This is truly exciting.】
A comment appeared in the live chat on the sports channel's stream. It seemed like the track and field enthusiast who posted it really wanted to share their surging emotions with more people, so they even used the donation feature to add colorful light effects to the comment.
For a moment, everyone in the live chat stared at the comment that said, "This is truly exciting," and fell into a long silence.
【I've never experienced the feeling of our Chinese team going head-to-head with this lineup of world-class powerhouses before. The excitement today is really overwhelming.】
【Friends, I suddenly remembered that we're not just competing in this round. The next one is the mixed 4x400-meter relay...】
【I can't handle it; my stomach really hurts. Just thinking about how our team is going to get trounced in a bit makes it hard to bear.】
Not only the viewers in the online live chat but also those sitting in front of their televisions were left baffled after hearing a series of comparisons between the 400-meter personal best times of various athletes mentioned by Shao Minyi and Li Sen, as well as the personal best times of the Chinese team's athletes.
Many people's first thought was, "Oh no, how are we going to compete with this?"
In the spectator stands, Jiang Wentao and Pei Jin'an were also concerned about the Chinese team's performance. However, Su Bai, watching Zhang Ziyi on the track, who had already crouched down in the starting position upon hearing the starting signal, had a satisfied smile on his face.
"No matter how strong the opponents are, they have to learn to face them. Today's competition doesn't put too much pressure on them. It's a good opportunity for them as their first appearance on the international stage."
"Maintaining composure, distributing energy, and working on team chemistry—there are many things they can try in this competition."
Su Bai's words left Jiang Wentao and Pei Jin'an momentarily stunned. As he finished speaking, the competition officially began.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 176
At the starting point of the curve, the first leg runners of the eight teams crouched on their starting blocks, holding their breath, waiting for the sound of the starting gun.
In the quiet stadium, which had fallen into a hushed state due to the preparation commands, the crisp sound of the starting gun acted like a signal, causing the athletes on the track to swiftly leap into action, and the entire stadium was once again engulfed in a sea of cheers.
In the sixth lane, Zhang Ziyi had a reaction time of 0.137 seconds, indicating excellent speed. However, in the fifth lane, Jamaica's first leg runner, Fraser, was even faster!
With a reaction time of 0.133 seconds, Zhang Ziyi had the fastest reaction at the gunshot, outclassing everyone. Fraser from Jamaica and Barnes, the first leg runner for the United States, were both explosive and fast starters. In just the first three strides, Fraser had already closed in on Zhang Ziyi, while Barnes in lane seven was nearly level with Günther from Belgium in lane eight!
"...They're too strong. We have to admit that the first leg runners from Jamaica and the United States are exceptionally powerful in terms of individual ability. In just three explosive steps from the start, Fraser has rapidly closed the gap with Zhang Ziyi. Meanwhile, Barnes from lane seven in the United States has almost caught up with Günther from Belgium!"
"Speaking of Günther, he's no slouch either, with a personal best of 45.47 seconds, but on the track, he's completely overshadowed by Barnes!"
From the live broadcast footage, just as Shao Minyi mentioned, it was clear that in the instant of the start, both Fraser from Jamaica and Barnes from the United States unleashed their incredible strength and speed. They were known for their explosive starts and acceleration, and despite differences in their starting positions' extension distances, these distances seemed almost inconsequential before them.
Zhang Ziyi had a good start, but in that moment of acceleration, he could clearly feel the difference in explosiveness and speed between himself and Fraser and Barnes.
Although he had mentally prepared himself for this race, Zhang Ziyi couldn't help but feel the pressure from his opponents during the sequence of starts and accelerations.
Before this final, due to his rapid improvement in performance on the Asian circuit or previous indoor tour competitions, Zhang Ziyi hadn't felt this kind of pure pressure from his opponents' strength for a long time.
In the past, when facing such pressure, he used to feel a sense of weakness and powerlessness, but at this moment, he could clearly sense the intense desire in his heart to chase and to be faster.
He instinctively adjusted every inch of his body's movements, from the swinging arms in a machete-like motion to the angle of his feet touching the ground, every joint, and the exertion of muscle strength...
The speed pressure from his surroundings quickly propelled Zhang Ziyi into a more excited state.
This is the world's top-level track!
These are the world's top competitors!
A desire to immerse himself in it all burned in Zhang Ziyi's heart, transforming into a stronger force, propelling him rapidly forward on the track!
"Zhang Ziyi is looking good!"
Li Sen focused on the live screen, watching Zhang Ziyi's performance closely. "Fraser's speed is impressive; he nearly caught up with Zhang Ziyi during the start, but after resisting Fraser's initial attack, Zhang Ziyi didn't let him completely pull away!"
From the screen, it was clear that although Zhang Ziyi was almost caught up by Fraser, the American runner Barnes, in front, had already left the Belgian runner Günther, from lane eight, behind and was about to catch up with the South African first leg runner in lane nine.
As for the first leg runner from Trinidad and Tobago in lane four, there was still a certain gap between him and Zhang Ziyi and Fraser. Apart from that, the runners from Japan and the UK in lanes three and two were already lagging noticeably behind the leading pack.
"Come on!!! Go, Zhang Shuai!!!"
In the spectator stands, the Chinese audience, drowned amidst tens of thousands of people, were shouting at the top of their lungs to support Zhang Ziyi. Even though their voices couldn't compete with the surrounding Japanese audience, they were giving it their all.
On the track, after entering the straightaway from the curve, Zhang Ziyi adjusted his stride and cadence, sprinting faster on the track.
During his run, Zhang Ziyi could clearly feel his energy rapidly depleting. He knew that after two high-intensity races in yesterday's preliminaries, he wasn't in his peak physical condition for today's two finals. He also knew that after this final, he would immediately have to compete in the next event, the Mixed 4x400m Relay.
But he still wanted to run faster... even faster!
This pressure from the top-notch competitors around him made his heart rate increase steadily, and he fixed his eyes on Barnes ahead. At the same time, he could hear Fraser on his left gradually catching up and inching past him step by step.
Faster...
He wanted to continue experiencing this sensation of competing against top-level opponents. He wanted to push his limits and achieve an even faster and stronger pace on the 400-meter track.
Zhang Ziyi took each step forward rapidly, feeling the wind against his face and the passionate cheers around him that stirred his blood.
Faster, even faster...
He remembered every word that Su Bai had told him. "In the 400 meters, if you want to run faster, you can't just rely on brute force. Only a passionate heart and mindless bursts of speed won't lead to a perfect improvement in your speed."
The 400 meters required the most brainpower and technique among all sprint events. It involved the technique of the start, the technique of running on the curves, the technique of transitioning from the curve to the straight, and perfect control and distribution of one's physical energy. It also required the precise application of techniques for accelerating.
Zhang Ziyi knew very well that he was a different type of athlete compared to Qiu Wen, who could run recklessly on the track. He was also completely different from Barnes and Fraser, the supremely talented African-American athletes.
To win on the 400-meter track, besides breaking through his physical limits, strength, and explosiveness, he needed to grasp every subtle aspect of technique.
On the 400-meter relay's first leg, Zhang Ziyi worked hard to control his breathing rate and quickly adjusted his breathing, heartbeat, and even the rhythm of his stride to his optimal pace!
Step by step...
Even though the soreness in his muscles was constantly reminding him of its presence, and the sharp pain in his breathing tried to disrupt his rhythm, Zhang Ziyi successfully resisted these negative sensations attempting to disturb his state of mind.
Zhang Ziyi gazed at Fraser and Barnes ahead of him, and his strides gradually brought him closer to these competitors.
"Zhang Ziyi...! Zhang Ziyi's speed is incredible. He hasn't been left behind by Fraser after the second bend. Unbelievable, Zhang Ziyi's speed is getting even faster!" exclaimed Jiang Chao, the main commentator for KuKuZi Live.
Jiang Chao knew very well that Zhang Ziyi was fast; after all, he held both the national indoor and outdoor men's 400-meter records in China. But...
Could Zhang Ziyi's speed have reached this level?
Did he ever run this fast when he broke the 45-second barrier?
Fast enough for the Trinidad and Tobago runner behind him to fall behind by a significant distance?
Fast enough that the Japanese and British runners behind him had no chance of catching up?
Fast enough that Zhang Ziyi was even...
【Oh my God!! Zhang Shuai is about to catch up with the South African first leg!!!】
【Damn it, Zhang Shuai!!!! Charge!!! Zhang Shuai is in third place now?! Ahhhhh!】
Both live chat rooms were flooded with crazy messages from viewers. They couldn't believe that Zhang Ziyi could run to third place in the first leg of today's race...
And Zhang Ziyi hadn't been left too far behind by Barnes and Fraser...!
【Is there a chance to win a medal?!】
Someone couldn't help but shout in the chat, but most viewers knew that this was only the first leg. Zhang Ziyi was the fastest member of the relay team among the four, and he could maintain third place for now, but it would be difficult to maintain this position in the subsequent legs.
However, even so, countless track and field enthusiasts were already boiling with excitement, beyond words.
This was on the top stage of men's 4x400-meter short relay, reaching third place!
Soon, the first-leg runners reached the baton exchange stage, but an unexpected incident occurred. During the baton exchange between the first and second legs of the American team, Barnes failed to pass the baton to the second-leg runner. The second-leg runner had to run ahead before realizing that he hadn't received the baton.
Not only did the American team make a baton exchange blunder, but even the Jamaican team had a momentary hiccup during the baton exchange. As a result, Zhang Ziyi had already handed the baton to Qiu Wen, and even the first leg of Trinidad and Tobago had caught up and passed the baton to their second-leg runner before the American and Jamaican teams completed their baton exchanges for the first and second legs.
...
...
?
Even though they were well aware of the American team's history of poor baton exchanges, witnessing this during such a crucial moment in the finals left many viewers speechless.
Commentators Shao Minyi and Li Sen were too exhausted to comment on the American team's blunder, but they quickly realized that this mistake by the American and Jamaican teams led to an unexpected result.
"Incredible... the Chinese team has temporarily taken the first place!"
Shao Minyi said this with a mix of excitement and a sense of absurdity. As a Chinese person, he naturally hoped that the Chinese relay team could reach the first place in a world-class event, but achieving this, especially under these circumstances, was somewhat laughable.
"Qiu Wen is in great shape. His physical endurance, explosive power, and acceleration during the start phase are quite similar to the characteristics of black athletes. On the current track, Qiu Wen is moving forward with his unique speed rhythm. He has already passed the first curve and is currently in first place!"
Li Sen continued to describe Qiu Wen's condition and position on the track. The Chinese viewers, both at home and at the venue, after a moment of bewilderment, erupted in even more intense cheers.
Huang Yilun was watching the live TV broadcast from the comfort of his home, and when he saw the Chinese team surge to first place, he felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, and he couldn't help but shout, "Holy crap!!!"
First place...
Temporarily in first place!
Although he knew deep down that this first place might not last long, for fans like Huang Yilun, their hearts were set ablaze like fireworks. It was as if their eyes had been blinded by dazzling lights. As their scalps tingled, some fans even felt their eyes welling up with tears.
【F***! This is insane!!!】
【!!!】
【@@@###】
For a moment, the chat rooms of online live streams were filled with incomprehensible messages. The overwhelming excitement and unexpected turn of events left these track and field enthusiasts almost speechless.
In the spectator stands, Jiang Wentao and Pei Jin'an were so astonished that they stood up. Su Bai also rose from his seat, his eyes fixed on the real-time developments on the track.
On the track, Qiu Wen was unaware of the specifics of what had happened, but he knew that Zhang Ziyi had set up a great opportunity for him during the first leg. After receiving the baton, he smoothly surged ahead.
Qiu Wen knew he couldn't let this smooth and advantageous situation slip away. If he embarrassed the Chinese team during the second leg, he'd be in for a scolding from Su Bai and an even harsher lecture from his grandfather over a long-distance phone call.
With the determination to avoid such a fate and to perform well for his team and relieve some pressure from Guo Dun and Li Junhao, Qiu Wen surged forward on the track with an unrelenting pace.
From the moment he hit the track, Qiu Wen gave it his all. Soon after rounding the first curve, he felt the threat closing in from behind.
On either side, it was the second leg runners from Jamaica and the United States.
However, Qiu Wen paid no attention to them. He simply focused on maintaining his breakneck speed through the curve.
Running 400 meters as if it were a 200-meter sprint was a feat only Qiu Wen could pull off. It placed a significant strain on his body, and rapid fatigue and energy loss were inevitable. However, over the past year, Su Bai had subjected him to extensive training in endurance and speed.
Coupled with Qiu Wen's natural talent for speed, endurance, and late-race acceleration, the training had transformed him into a runner who could maintain a nearly uniform speed throughout the 400 meters. This mysterious state allowed Qiu Wen to sprint recklessly on the track without much thought.
As Qiu Wen sprinted, he felt the onset of fatigue in his body, a slight ache and tearing sensation in his muscles. Paradoxically, these sensations only seemed to stimulate his spirit, making his eyes shine brightly and his sprint even more exuberant.
When they reached the merge point where the lanes converged, Qiu Wen swiftly moved toward the inner lane. At the same time, the second-leg runners from Jamaica and the United States had caught up, and the second-leg runner from Trinidad and Tobago, in lane four, also took advantage of their inside position and moved toward the inner lane.
In an instant, there was a flurry of activity as runners transitioned from the outer lanes to the inner lanes.
Qiu Wen maintained his rapid pace, but Jamaica's second-leg runner was closer to the inner lane. In the battle for the inside lane, the Jamaican athlete secured the top position, leaving Qiu Wen in second place. To his right, the second-leg runner from the United States was running in lane two, clearly looking for an opportunity to reclaim the top position on the inside.
Although Qiu Wen was running at a blistering pace, both the Jamaican and American second-leg runners were top-notch 400-meter athletes who had run sub-44-second times. After a brief struggle, both the Jamaican and American runners began to pull away from Qiu Wen.
Despite losing the lead, Qiu Wen gritted his teeth and pressed on. He was well aware of the gap between himself and these two teams. However, in that fleeting moment of being in the lead, Qiu Wen could feel the fiery determination burning in his heart.
Even now, with the first and second positions out of reach, Qiu Wen felt a rush of excitement as if he could hear his own heart shouting, "Screw Jamaica and the United States! Screw the difference in strength! I'm coming for them!"
Qiu Wen wanted to see just how far he could push himself with an all-out sprint, how close he could get through sheer determination.
His sudden acceleration caught the second-leg runner from Trinidad and Tobago off guard. While this experienced 400-meter athlete knew the expected pace and stride for this part of the race, the Chinese runner ahead seemed to have completely abandoned the established rhythm.
If he didn't have complete confidence in his own pace, he might have been thrown off balance by this Chinese runner.
Meanwhile, the second-leg runner from Belgium, faced with Qiu Wen's unconventional rhythm, struggled to maintain his own form.
As things stood on the track, there were now two leading groups: Jamaica and the United States in the first group, and China, Trinidad and Tobago, and Belgium in the second group. Behind them, the third group consisted of the teams from Britain, Japan, and South Africa.
Although China had briefly taken the lead and was now back in third place, their performance had exceeded the expectations of the audience by far.
In front of their television screens, track and field enthusiasts wore expressions of excitement, silently chanting "Come on, come on!" as they watched the live broadcast from the comfort of their homes.
During the relay baton exchanges between the second and third legs, the audience initially thought there wouldn't be any more surprises. However, Jamaica's second leg had a brief hiccup, and what was even more dramatic was the baton exchange between the American team's second and third legs.
Due to the camera angles and switching on the television broadcast, viewers initially didn't understand what had happened. It was only when the commentators mentioned that the American team had committed a baton exchange violation that the audience reacted with astonishment.
On the television broadcast, the American team continued competing, but the voice of commentator Shao Minyi was resolute: "The American team committed a baton exchange violation."
Seeing this result, both Shao Minyi and Li Sen were left baffled once again.
They had to explain to the viewers: "It's quite common for the American relay team to have their results disqualified due to baton exchange violations. In yesterday's races, although the American team had slow baton exchanges, they didn't commit violations. Today in the finals, they were probably aiming for a good result, but baton exchange violations occurred during the second and third legs."
Li Sen also shook his head and laughed, saying, "I remember the American team once achieved a remarkable feat. In their 4x100-meter relay, they continuously committed violations, leading to them participating for several years but only recording a valid result once. It's become one of the distinctive features of the American team."
As Shao Minyi and Li Sen provided commentary, the baton had already reached Guo Dun on the track.
Although Guo Dun couldn't hold off the challenge from Trinidad and Tobago's third leg, he maintained a stable pace, closely trailing the Trinidad and Tobago athlete. He tenaciously resisted the pressure from the Belgian third leg and refused to relinquish China's current position to the Belgian third leg.
After successfully passing the baton to the fourth leg, Li Junhao, on the final sprint of the fourth leg, Li Junhao showed unwavering determination. He held his ground against the relentless pursuit of the strongest runners from behind, attempting to reclaim the third-place position from Trinidad and Tobago's fourth leg!
As the race entered the final 100-meter sprint segment, Li Junhao, Trinidad and Tobago, and Belgium's fourth-leg runners found themselves in a close battle for third place. Trinidad and Tobago's athlete led the trio, while Belgium's fourth-leg runner and Li Junhao alternated between chasing and maintaining their positions, fiercely competing for the coveted third-place spot.
Heartbeats pounded violently, echoing the wild desire and determination for victory within their chests.
Li Junhao's mind was a blank slate by now. He stared ahead at the final stretch of the track, gritting his teeth and giving his all to sustain his final sprint. Knowing that Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen would soon compete in the mixed 4x400-meter relay, both of them pushing to create an advantage for the men's team, Li Junhao had every reason to fight with all his might to maintain their lead.
Regardless of the strength or weaknesses of other teams, he knew one thing for sure: they couldn't afford to lose.
When Li Junhao ultimately crossed the finish line with a lead of just one body length over Belgium's fourth-leg runner, he excitedly pumped his fists in the air.
They had won!
Though it was only fourth place, it marked a fresh start for the Chinese team.
Li Junhao believed that, given the rapid progress of the Chinese team, there was still room for improvement in relay events. Even if Chinese 400-meter runners had room for improvement in speed, Trinidad and Tobago had demonstrated that they could intimidate top-tier teams with their flawless teamwork. So, too, could the Chinese team!
"We won!!!" shouted Shao Minyi excitedly in the sports channel's broadcasting booth. "The athletes on the field and the audience may not have seen it clearly yet, but from the close-up replay we just showed, it's evident that the American team committed a baton exchange violation..."
Li Sen joined in the jubilation, saying, "Our athletes may not be aware of it yet, but in this 4x400-meter relay final, our men's 4x400-meter short relay team has secured a world-class season's bronze medal!"
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------