The next morning at 5 AM, Chen Shu was sound asleep.
The WADA staff members responsible for urine testing were there again, and again, and again.
The key is that this urine test is different from the urine tests at a regular hospital. They watch you pee.
Chen Shu stood in the bathroom, with a WADA official beside him, eyes never blinking, watching intently as he urinated.
Moreover, he had to pull his shirt up to his chest and take off his pants to ensure there were no hidden items.
This is of course to prevent athletes from using other fluids hidden in their clothes to replace urine, in an attempt to evade the urine test.
Blood tests are just a direct draw. Chen Shu hadn't competed yet, so he didn't need one.
This was just an "ordinary" pre-competition test.
There are also in-competition tests, which are the most stringent.
All athletes must undergo them.
Pre-competition tests are relatively more relaxed, depending on the organizer's policies.
American athletes don't need pre-competition tests, and some athletes currently have 0 tests.
While in China, there are at least 2 pre-competition tests per day, and a maximum of 7.
Athletes protested against this unfairness, but the domestic media remained completely silent on foreign platforms.
They would only report on it domestically, but when it came to foreigners, they wouldn't dare to say a word.
The world's most submissive towards the West are China's various media outlets.
So Chen Shu held these "talents" from China's news industry in deep contempt!
Male athletes actually have it better; they have thicker skin.
Urine tests for female athletes are awkward, squatting there being watched by female WADA officials.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an international sports organization, and each country pays corresponding fees annually.
But this only accounts for 50% of all expenses.
The other half comes from various sponsors.
Among them, the United States accounts for a whopping 29% of sponsorship.
Therefore, their doping test rate is among the lowest in the world.
And they have absolute exemptions for asthma and heart disease.
That is, athletes with these conditions can be approved to take additional medication.
At the same time, American biopharmaceutical technology is also extremely powerful. They develop a new batch of performance-enhancing drugs every 1-2 years.
While the WADA drug list may not have been updated in time.
China, of course, also has doping, but it's due to the coaches' private actions.
The country has always been very strict in its control over this aspect.
Once discovered, their athletic careers are immediately terminated.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 13-year-old swimmer Li Zhe Si was caught using banned substances and was immediately banned from the pool.
"I heard Zhang Yu Fei and Qin Hai Yang came back last night, slept for 2 hours, and then were taken for urine tests. They had 2 tests in one night!"
"Are these guys crazy? Damn!"
"This is torture disguised as testing!"
Zhang Zhan Shuo couldn't help but curse.
Chen Shu had just arrived at the temporary training venue when he heard his teammates' discussions.
Under Western rules, Chinese athletes are helpless.
The key is you can't not participate because athletes have been preparing for four years for this single competition. There are many things you just have to endure.
This involves your future career, prospects, and the honor of betting your life on it!
"Alright, everyone come over!"
"Don't let the testing affect your mentality. Don't have any psychological burden."
"Although the target set for us by the authorities is at least 3 gold medals."
"But we had a meeting yesterday. First and foremost, we need to ensure we get medals!"
Head coach Cui Deng Rong gathered everyone for a pre-competition pep talk.
"Gold or silver doesn't matter, but we absolutely can't underperform and give them a reason to question us!"
"Normally you swim at 48 seconds, but here in Paris, if it's 49 seconds, 50 seconds, that won't work. The foreigners will definitely think there's something wrong with us!"
"Just give it your all, understood?"
"Yes!"
Everyone responded loudly.
Cui Deng Rong's gaze fell on Chen Shu and the others: "Alright, one chance to prove yourself. Did you guys race yesterday?"
"Yes!"
Wang Shun, as the team captain, didn't hesitate.
"Chen Shu was first in every race afterward!"
Assistant coach Shi Ming Bo spoke.
He was the one who watched the four of them race yesterday afternoon. Chen Shu's performance improved with each race, consistently.
Almost every lap was within 48 seconds.
"His best time was 47.81!"
"Oh?"
47.81?
This was another pleasant surprise.
Cui Deng Rong's mood had been sour these past few days, with WADA and the pool.
To be able to swim faster with each race in this pool, it could only mean one thing: Chen Shu's condition was truly excellent.
Young people think less, which is an advantage in this Paris competition.
In contrast, the other teammates, even Pan Zhan Le, were more or less affected.
"Let's have another race, I want to see!"
Cui Deng Rong said, and the four of them immediately went to the edge of the pool.
In fact, Chen Shu had gained a lot of experience from yesterday's four-person race.
Although it couldn't compare to the team selection race in the morning, with six or seven races combined, he still gained nearly 300 experience!
So his "Speed Up" skill had already reached level 16.
【Speed Up lv16】：Intermediate, gain an extra 32 seconds of speed boost. The higher the level, the longer the duration of the speed boost.
Beep!
The race signal sounded, and the four of them instantly plunged into the water.
"Actually, I talked to Lao Huang yesterday, and looking at his current state, I personally think it's better to let Chen Shu go first!"
"But I'm afraid something unexpected might happen during the race, like his nerves..."
"We absolutely cannot afford to lose this time!"
Cui Deng Rong watched Chen Shu jump into the pool and spoke to Shi Ming Bo beside him.
Shi Ming Bo shook his head: "At this point, we definitely need to go all out. No matter what, we have to win the first race and show the spirit of the Chinese swimming team. Otherwise, how are we going to do the rest?!"
Sports are like warfare; one push forward, then decline.
If you can win gold on the first day, it will be a completely different outcome compared to winning gold on the following days, in terms of team morale and inspiring the crowd.
The athletes' confidence will also be greatly boosted.
Especially at this critical moment when morale is low.
"I know, but the team leader has his own considerations..."
"Alright, I'll—— um?"
Cui Deng Rong stared at Chen Shu in the pool, thinking he had seen wrong.
"First?"
"He's first after only 50 meters?"
While Pan Zhan Le wasn't here, it was just Chen Shu, Wang Hao Yu, Ji Xing Jie, and Chen Jun Er.
But Cui Deng Rong knew the strength of the latter three.
Chen Shu was a backstroke specialist, yet he was ahead in the first 50 meters.
In the remaining 50 meters... Cui Deng Rong was about to say something, but his eyes were fixed on the first figure to turn underwater.
Wang Hao Yu, the team's second seed, was behind him.
"Chen Shu, go for it!"
"Awesome, kid!"
"Go, go, go!"
Seeing that figure leading the pack in the pool, the national team members who were training on the sidelines erupted in cheers.
Wang Hao Yu, who was in second place, looked in despair at the water spray getting further and further away. He was completely thrown off.
Damn it, this is crushing.
What kind of monster is this?!
Did this kid take Viagra on top of aphrodisiacs today?!
So fierce!
If Wang Hao Yu was in this state, Ji Xing Jie and Chen Jun Er behind him were even more hopeless!
47.70!
Another incredible time that left the entire audience awestruck.
This was a time that could have won a medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the World Championships.
Silver Medal!
In the Doha Swimming World Championships in February of this year, the 100-meter freestyle silver medalist was Alessandro Miressi from Italy, with a time of 47.72.
The gold medal was won by Pan Zhan Le, with 47.50!
If Chen Shu had participated, he would have been the silver medalist, second in the world.
If this had been the Rio Olympics, this score would have been a guaranteed gold medal.
The speed of the 100-meter freestyle has been increasing year after year, yet 13-year-old Chen Shu swam such a time.
Not just the national team members on the sidelines, even Cui Deng Rong's eyes... were a bit vacant.
He had expected Chen Shu's condition to be good, but he hadn't expected it to be this good!
It was almost too good!