The temporary training ground of the Chinese Swimming Team at the Paris Olympics, by the pool.
Eight male athletes stood on the edge of the pool, ready for battle.
Chen Shu, Zhang Zhan Shuo, Niu Guang Sheng, Wang Shun, and the four main players of the previous 4*100m freestyle relay – Pan Zhan Le, Wang Hao Yu, Ji Xing Jie, and Chen Jun Er, stood in front of their respective lanes, stretching their bodies.
Chen Shu was in lane four.
Beside him was Wang Shun in lane three and Pan Zhan Le in lane five.
They were about to decide who would be participating in the freestyle relay tomorrow.
The reason for choosing before the competition, instead of deciding in advance, was that each athlete's condition was different.
Some might be unaccustomed to the water and soil of Paris, while others might not adapt to the venue.
Therefore, it was necessary to select the four in the best condition to face tomorrow's first competition.
Although the preliminary rounds were not as important as the finals, if they didn't go all out, they might not even qualify for the finals.
Moreover, with Pan Zhan Le, the world record holder, this year, they had a good chance of entering the finals, breaking the history of China's 4*100m men's freestyle relay never qualifying for the Olympic finals.
Even if they didn't win a medal, just reaching the finals would be a historic achievement.
Because in previous Olympics, China had never reached the finals in this event.
For some events, it wasn't about winning gold, but about surpassing the previous record, which was the greatest recognition and progress, and both the coaches and athletes would be commended.
Head coach Cui Deng Rong, naturally, wouldn't dare to be careless.
…
At this time, by the pool, besides Qin Hai Yang and Zhang Yu Fei, who had gone to the press conference, all twenty-two male and female national athletes participating in swimming events at the 2024 Paris Olympics stood on the edge of the pool.
They watched the team selection while cheering everyone on.
"Xiao Hai, go for it!"
Kong Ya Qi, the youngest girl on the team after Chen Shu, was only 15 years old.
She had won the women's 200m freestyle at the National Spring Swimming Championships, and she was quite strong.
Currently, she was a main member of the 4*200m freestyle relay team.
She had the best relationship with Chen Shu because they were close in age.
The others were at least 16 or 17 years old, making the age gap a bit large.
Therefore, these people often treated Chen Shu like a child, teasing him from time to time.
"Are you ready?"
Cui Deng Rong stood on the edge of the pool, letting the assistant coach be responsible for playing the signal for the start of the competition.
The eight athletes were now all standing on the starting blocks.
Chen Shu put on his swimming cap and goggles, looked at the pool in front of him, and took a deep breath. Of course, this was the prepared posture.
"Preliminary round selection, first race!"
After Cui Deng Rong finished speaking, the aura of each athlete seemed to change.
The eight stood in their lanes, feet together, bodies straight, heads slightly raised, eyes fixed ahead.
Beep!
The signal for the start of the competition sounded, and Chen Shu didn't hesitate at all, diving straight into the water.
The eight athletes almost started at the same time, but the machines on the side had already displayed everyone's reaction time and entry time.
Pan Zhan Le was obviously in first place, Chen Shu... last, eighth.
Cui Deng Rong shook his head but didn't think much of it.
After all, Chen Shu was the youngest, still in his developmental stage, so his reaction time and jump were slow, which was normal.
But this kid's talent surprised him. He was a standard speed-type athlete.
Even if he was so far behind at the beginning, he could still overtake many adult athletes.
This young man's finishing kick was the best he had ever seen, even more outstanding than Pan Zhan Le's.
"Pan Zi, go for it!"
"Shun Ge, charge!"
"Wang Hao Yu!!!"
Countless athletes on the edge started cheering for the teammates they had a good relationship with.
After 20 meters, the results of the eight athletes in the pool were clear.
Chen Shu was far behind, in eighth place.
He was quite a distance behind Niu Guang Sheng, who was in seventh.
The first place was obviously Pan Zhan Le, and the second was Wang Hao Yu………
Because it was 100 meters, Chen Shu couldn't use the acceleration skill at the beginning like he did in the 50 meters.
The sprint could only be used in the last 20 meters, as it only lasted five seconds.
Therefore, being in last place was something that both Chen Shu and Cui Deng Rong had expected, and many people in the crowd knew it.
Chen Shu had the same result in his previous team 100m test.
But in the finishing stage, he had fiercely overtaken from eighth to fifth.
At that time, it shocked Cui Deng Rong, who almost jumped up in excitement.
"He's still too young. In a few years, he should be able to match Zhan Le!"
Cui Deng Rong said, and Shi Ming Bo, the assistant coach beside him, smiled, "What else do you want? He's only 13 years old. This talent... it's like it's overflowing!"
"Haha!"
Cui Deng Rong also laughed. By this time, everyone had finished the 50-meter halfway point, and Chen Shu was the last to complete the underwater turn.
"Yo?"
"He's faster!"
Cui Deng Rong looked at the underwater turn data on the side.
Previously, Chen Shu was the last to turn, taking more than one second.
Now, he was actually in sixth place, at 0.81 seconds.
He had overtaken both Niu Guang Sheng and Zhang Zhan Shuo.
"He's made progress again, this kid!"
Cui Deng Rong's face lit up, and the next second, his and Shi Ming Bo's eyes widened.
In the 100m freestyle, victory was determined by a fraction of a second, often the difference between the first and last place was only one second.
Chen Shu's turn was 0.2 seconds faster, so his overall time was naturally faster.
Moreover, at the moment of turning, he had already activated the 【Acceleration】 skill.
Splash——
Instantly, Chen Shu's swimming style became obviously more forceful and rapid.
This visible speed improvement, not only the coaches, Cui Deng Rong and Shi Ming Bo, but all the athletes on the edge, obviously saw it.
"This kid's finishing kick is really strong!"
"So fast, he's instantly in seventh!"
"Damn, he's unstoppable in the last 50 meters!"
Seventh, sixth... In a mere 15 meters, Chen Shu overtook Niu Guang Sheng and Zhang Zhan Shuo ahead of him.
Ahead of him was Wang Shun, and they were side-by-side.
Chen Shu could even feel the waves from Pan Zhan Le, who was in first place on the other side.
"Go!"
Chen Shu looked at the acceleration energy bar that was still disappearing, his body completely fused with the accelerating force, he was like a flying fish, getting faster and faster!
"He's catching up!"
"He's close to Wang Shun!"
Everyone saw that Chen Shu and Wang Shun were neck and neck, and the next second, Chen Shu overtook him, directly reaching fifth place.
………………….
………………….
PS: New month, seeking monthly votes. Although I'm still a seedling, I still want to make a run for the monthly vote rankings!
Without dreams, what's the difference between me and a salted fish!