[Short track speed skating] From academic master to Winter Olympic champion

Half a month later, Cheng Sen stopped all team activities and interviews: "Okay, next month there will be the World Cup and World Championships, so it's time to calm down."

From the beginning of the Winter Olympics to the present, the team members have experienced too many things that they could not have imagined before.

Before the Winter Olympics, their life was very monotonous and boring, and they spent three points and one line between the dormitory, cafeteria and skating hall every day.After the start of the season, he traveled to various countries and cities.

They are not popular sports like football and basketball. They have games every week and can attract hundreds of millions of fans around the world to watch.

That is to say, after winning the gold medal at the Winter Olympics, I suddenly received so much attention and support from the media and ice fans, and let everyone live a life shrouded in the spotlight for nearly a month.

Of course, the days of being noticed are good, some people praise and like them, some people talk about the stories behind the champions, they are invited to participate in a lot of activities, and they earn money, who doesn’t like such days.

But after all, they are just athletes, not stars. Everyone knows what they should do next and what tasks await them.

My heart is also fast, from participating in various activities, interviews and programs every day to returning to the training base and starting to sweat,

Chi Lang said with emotion: "This period of time is just like a dream."

Lin Jiaxi also said: "I feel like I have transformed from an ordinary person into a big star."

"Wake up." Meng Yuqiao glanced at the two of them, then at Gu Ran, "He is our lesson from the past."

With his hands behind his head, Chi Lang lay on his back in the open space in the middle of the gym: "We are all ordinary people, and we are easily confused by the glitz of the world."

When Gu Ran passed by, she couldn't help kicking him: "I have made progress, and I still know the glitz of the world."

Gao Ziyi sat on the support frame for doing sit-ups: "Xiao Ran can't, he is a man of great wisdom and knows what he wants."

Cheng Sen also looked at Gu Ran: "Only he can be so calm. Whether you praise or scold, it doesn't matter to him at all."

Just as Gu Ran squatted down, the physical fitness coach helped him carry the barbell on his shoulders, and while protecting him, he asked him to half-squat with the barbell and stand up slowly.

Cheng Sen's eyes swept across the crowd: "I don't care how many shows you have, how many fans you have gained on Weibo, once you get off the podium, everything will start again. If you don't want to work hard, you can pack up and leave now."

Hearing this, Chi Lang turned over and stood up from the ground, jumped up the ladder, hooked his abdomen and raised his legs to hook the equipment, and did a set of sit-ups while hanging upside down.

The skating hall and athletes’ apartment shared by figure skating and short track speed skating have already been renovated and upgraded, but the leaders hope that they will move back after the Winter Olympics.

Now that the Winter Olympics is over, the national training teams of figure skating, short track, speed skating, and curling have been living and training in the ice and snow park training base for nearly two years. Rehearse activities for the Spring Festival Gala, and go to the Winter Olympics together...

Now that the Winter Olympics is over, everyone has to go back to their previous training bases. When they are separated, they are still reluctant to part. I don’t know when the next time we will get together for training.

Returning to a familiar place and moving into a familiar room, the interior decoration has changed a lot, from the decoration style of the last century to a simple and modern style.

A new environment, a new beginning, the Beijing Winter Olympics has become a thing of the past, and they are about to start a new journey and continue to work hard for the Milan Winter Olympics four years later.

On March 3st, Gu Ran started school.

On the first day of school, he went back to school to report and attended a class meeting by the way.

The moment he walked into the classroom, the whole class cheered: "Wow, the male star of our class is back!"

"Hurry up, sign and group photo are arranged!"

"This morning, several female students from other departments were watching at the gate of our college."

"There is also a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates on the podium. There is a card underneath with Gu Ran's name written on it. I don't know who put it there."

Gu Ran picked up the card and looked at it. It was not given by one person, but by a group of people. The flowers were sent by the artificial intelligence class next door, and the chocolate was sent by the quantum computer class on the other side. It was simply congratulations for his victory in the Winter Olympics.

Gu Ran also made a special trip to another classroom to thank the students for their support.

Gu Ran still has training and competitions, so she won't be able to attend classes with her classmates for half a month. They will be going to Stanford next month for an exchange and study, and they make an appointment to see each other then.

After process Sen and Xu Qing discussed, Gu Ran did not participate in the World Cup.The Winter Olympics is more than a month away.Whether it is on or off the field, he has participated in too many activities, which consume too much energy. The coaching staff hoped that he could take this time to take a good rest, so he did not let him participate in the World Cup, but signed up for the World Championships game.

This year's World Championships was held in Salt Lake City, USA. Gu Ran appeared on the field again. Whether it was athletes from other countries or the audience, everyone looked at him differently than before.

He is no longer a genius boy whose talent has not yet been fulfilled, but a legendary star who has just won five gold medals in the Winter Olympics by himself.

Just standing on the same ice rink with him puts athletes from other countries under pressure.

While Gu Ran won the championships in all events again, he also broke the men's 1m world record with a time of 20:583.

In this World Championships, he won one more gold medal than the Winter Olympics - the men's all-around champion.

After the game, an old man made a special trip to find him.

The old man was over 70 years old. When he saw Gu Ran in the hotel lobby, he took the initiative to introduce himself to him: "Hello, I am Michelle, a craftsman who makes skates."

Gu Ran was taken aback for a moment, this master is famous in the short track speed skating world.Asking him to tailor a pair of skates is not an easy task, and the queue can last a year or two.

The key is that athletes have high requirements for skates and need a long period of running-in to make their feet fit perfectly with the skates.For a short track speed skater, this is a very painful thing, and he suffers very much.

The average athlete changes their skates once a few months, but they cannot change their skates twice in their lifetime.

Gu Ran's skates were just changed the year before last, and they were also custom-made in the United States.His feet haven't changed much in the past two years, so he doesn't need to change his skates frequently.

So why did the master of custom skates suddenly come to him?

"Hello," Gu Ran asked uncertainly, "Are you waiting here for me?"

Michelle nodded: "Yes, I have been waiting for you for several years."

"Huh?" Gu Ran was even more confused.Although the master's craftsmanship in making skates is first-class, he is very craftsman.But it took too long, and when he finished the shoes, they might not be suitable for Gu Ran, a developing young man.

Therefore, Gu Ran never asked him to make shoes.

What did he mean by waiting for him for several years?

"I think, you've heard, I make golden skates every year for short track speed skaters who win world championships," Michelle said.

"However, in these years, only female athletes have come to me. You have won the men's all-around championship for four consecutive years, but you have never come to me once."

"..."

Cheng Sen once mentioned this question to Gu Ran. At that time, Gu Ran gave him the answer that, when he wins all the gold medals one day, he will be the real all-round champion.

In fact, what he thought in his heart was that this matter would take a special time to do, and he would have to travel to the United States, and it would take a long time for him to finish it.

After getting this pair of golden skates, there is a high probability that they will be just a decoration, without any practicality.He might as well spare this time and go back to school for a few days of class.

Therefore, he never considered this matter.Unexpectedly, they actually came to the door in person.

Gu Ran smiled embarrassingly: "Your schedule is quite full, so I'm sorry to make trouble for you."

Michelle waved her hand: "How can it be a mess, it's my honor."

He pointed to the assistants at the side. There were five of them, all of whom were carrying boxes, and it was not difficult to guess that there were tools for making skates inside: "I came to you specially today, just to make these for you. A pair of golden skates."

Gu Ran was flattered: "This..."

In fact, he had other things to do. He booked an evening flight to go to California to reunite with his classmates.

Xu Qing patted Gu Ran on the shoulder: "Other athletes have traveled thousands of miles to his shop to ask him to make shoes, but they may not be able to make shoes. You are lucky, the master came to you on his own initiative, you Not happy yet."

Gu Ran explained: "I'm not unhappy, I'm very happy..."

Xu Qing pushed him: "Then why are you dawdling here, hurry up!"

Gu Ran: "..."

It is not so easy to make a pair of skates that perfectly fit the athlete's feet. It requires a lot of steps. The first step is to make a foot model.

During this process, Michelle also asked about his usual training and competition habits, and asked him if he had any requirements for appearance and color.

Gu Ran thought about it. For him, as long as the skates fit comfortably and have no effect on the game, there is no special requirement for the appearance and color.

But he still made a small request symbolically: "Just keep a low profile."

After customizing the skates, it was too late, so Gu Ran could only stay in Salt Lake City for one more night and change the ticket for tomorrow morning.

After the World Championships, the whole team had a holiday.What arrangements the players have is their own business, and the coach will not interfere too much.

But Cheng Sen and Xu Qing were still a little worried. After all, Gu Ran was only eighteen or nineteen years old, and she spent most of the time with them all year round. Looking at him was like seeing an old father looking at his son.

"After reconciling with the teacher, remember to call us to make sure you are safe."

Gu Ran said: "At that time, you were already on the plane back to China and couldn't answer the phone."

Xu Qing glared at him: "Then send a message, I can see it when I get off the plane."

Gu Ran nodded fiercely: "I know, I know!"

"Be sure to pay attention to safety! This place is no better than in China."

Gu Ran was a little impatient: "I'm not alone, I came out with the school to exchange and study."

Xu Qing added: "You should also pay attention to your diet."

"Be sure to pay attention!"

Cheng Sen gave Xu Qing a hand: "Okay, he's not a child, so stop nagging."

Just as they were about to leave the room, Xu Qing turned his head again: "Little brat."

"What's the matter..." As soon as Gu Ran raised his head, he saw Xu Qing showing a half-smile expression, and asked him a question with ulterior motives: "Which major are you studying now, Stanford or your school?" Even more powerful."

Gu Ran blurted out: "It must be our class, now ranked first in the world!"

Xu Qing nodded: "That's good."

After speaking, he followed Cheng Sen out of the room.

Gu Ran was wondering why Director Xu suddenly cared about his studies.

At this time Gao Ziyi walked in from the outside, Gu Ran was sitting on the stall, just in time to close the suitcase, which contained his equipment.

Gao Ziyi asked: "Is everything packed?"

Gu Ran nodded, and pointed to another box: "That's what I'm going to bring tomorrow, so I'm going to ask my brother to help me bring it back to China."

"No problem." Sitting next to him, Gao Ziyi patted his suitcase casually, "Just give me your things at ease."

Gu Ran raised her head and smiled at him, then lowered her head and continued to organize things: "I can trust you with my life, let alone the equipment."

For skaters like them, the skates are never far away.Under the lens of the audience and the media, athletes from all over the world are very harmonious and friendly, but this is a competitive sport, and as long as there is competition, there will be improper competition or even malicious competition.

There have been incidents of figure skaters falling or even being injured on the court because their skates were tampered with.

Not only between opponents, but in some countries, it is more convenient and more concealed to attack teammates.Not only did they attack the skates and skates, but even the athletes. There were many similar scandals in the South Korean team.

But Gu Ran has always trusted his teammates, especially Gao Ziyi, who often helped him sharpen his skates and knew his skates better than himself.

Gao Ziyi asked Gu Ran: "What is the difference between sitting in the classroom and training at the ice rink?"

This question is a bit interesting. Gu Ran thought about it carefully: "Actually... there is no difference. Going to school is to explore the boundaries of knowledge, and training is to challenge the limits of the body."

Gao Ziyi asked again: "Then do you prefer school or training?"

Gu Ran tilted her head: "I like them all, and I don't think they are contradictory."

Gao Ziyi's next question was more straightforward: "Will you give up training because you are going to school?"

"Not for now."

"temporary?"

Gu Ran said: "Challenging the physical limit will be subject to age restrictions, but exploring the boundaries of knowledge will not."

Gao Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Then I can rest assured."

Gu Ran raised her eyebrows: "What are you worried about, brother?"

"I'm worried that you are addicted to studying and don't want to practice skating anymore. After all, you have reached a height that no one else can reach in a lifetime."

Sitting beside him, Gu Ran patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, at least not now."