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

Gu Ran hesitated for a long time whether to stay in school.He also went home to ask his parents for advice.

Xu Mei was very happy when she heard that he was going to stay in school: "Isn't this a good thing? There is no pressure to be a teacher. There are winter and summer vacations, and it is your favorite field. You should still be a teacher in the best university."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "I didn't stay in school to be a teacher, I was doing projects."

Gu Changfeng asked: "What project?"

"Brain-like computing."

Gu Changfeng smiled and said, "Then should you still study medicine?"

Gu Ran buried her head in eating the fruit: "The team has experts in brain science, so I don't need to bother."

Xu Mei sat on the other side of Gu Ran and touched his ear: "You said you came to ask for something from us, but you have already made up your mind."

Xu Mei knew that her son had always been like this, he had a lot of ideas in his mind, so asking for opinions was just a polite inquiry, and the final decision was always in his own hands.

Before he makes a decision, he must have considered life and death carefully, taking all good and bad factors into consideration.

Once a decision is made, it means that he has taken all the unfavorable factors into consideration and thinks it is acceptable.So he never regrets doing things and rarely complains.

Gu Ran nodded: "I think this research is very interesting, especially building from scratch, it is very fulfilling. Besides, I just learned this, and I can't do anything else."

Gu Changfeng said, "You can still be a coach."

Gu Ran chuckled: "It's not easy for Director Cheng and Director Xu to reach middle age. I can't let them lose their jobs."

When it came to the unemployment of the two coaches, Gu Ran was stunned. He held the grape in his hand for a long time, but didn't stuff it into his mouth.

Xu Mei asked nervously, "What's the matter, are these grapes not tasty?"

Gu Ran came back to her senses, quickly stuffed the grapes into her mouth, and even swallowed the belt seeds: "It's delicious, very sweet."

Hearing that it was delicious, Xu Mei was happy: "Eat more if it tastes good."

After graduation, Gu Ran and Wei Yuening stayed in the school together, turning from classmates to colleagues.

In this way, another half year passed, and the time came to the end of December, one year and two months before the next Winter Olympics.

This season's Short Track Speed ​​Skating World Cup has passed four stations. During these four competitions, the Chinese team has rotated nearly 10 athletes, ranging in age from 16 to 25. Only Lin Jiaxi only won the 1500m gold medal in Shanghai.

By this time, Cheng Sen and Xu Qing did not have a stable lineup that could compete in the Winter Olympics, and they were still trying, hoping to discover new players with more potential.

In fact, it's not that there are no players who can achieve a certain ranking in international competitions, but compared with Gu Ran and his generation, they are indeed lacking in ability.

Xu Qing looked at the profiles of several athletes: "I think they are actually pretty good. Chen Yuze's 500m and 1000m levels are close to Chi Lang's. He is 18 years old this year."

Cheng Sen was noncommittal, opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally said nothing.

Xu Qing has known him since he was in his teens. They were inseparable for more than ten years when they were teammates, and then they were inseparable for more than ten years as the coach of the national team together. They know each other better than their parents.Just a subtle expression, Xu Qing guessed what he wanted to say.

Cheng Sen wants to say that the level of Chi Lang is almost the same as the problem, and it cannot continue the glory of China's short track speed skating in the past three Winter Olympics.

What they were looking for was actually a successor whose level was infinitely close to Gu Ran's.

However, a genius like Gu Ran is hard to come by.

They're not regressing, they're just getting back to normal.

Gao Ziyi and Meng Yuqiao looked at each other, then looked down at their notebooks, neither of them said anything.

They also knew in their hearts that apart from Gu Ran, the two of them, together with Chi Lang and Lin Jiaxi, could be regarded as first-class players in international competitions, but many short-track powerhouses could train players of a similar level.

There is nothing special about the four of them, the special one is Gu Ran.

In the end, it was Gao Ziyi who tentatively opened his mouth: "How about...how about asking Xiaoran..."

"No." Cheng Sen and Xu Qing said in unison.

Meng Yuqiao said: "If we look for him, Xiao Ran will think carefully about it."

"I know," Cheng Sen said with a very tough attitude, "If the grades are not good, I will bear the consequences. There is no need to call him back."

Xu Qing nodded: "He has retired for more than two years, and he may not be able to adapt when he comes back, and he has to bear a lot of pressure."

"He is staying at the school now, doing scientific research and teaching students at the same time. He is living a good life, so let's not bother him."

Gao Ziyi and Meng Yuqiao nodded and said nothing.

Later, when Gao Ziyi called Gu Ran, he didn't mention this matter.

Instead, Gu Ran asked, "Brother, how is the situation in the team?"

Gao Ziyi sighed: "It's okay, there are a few small players who are not bad, but they are too young, they are only seventeen or eighteen years old, and the oldest one is only 19 years old."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "We were only this big when we first participated in the adult competition."

"That's just you, not us." Gao Ziyi smiled, "At the time of the Winter Olympics, we were all in our 20s, and you were under 19."

Gu Ran asked again: "Who is the strongest in the team now?"

"It's hard to say, after all, the projects are different."

Gu Ran changed the question: "Who is most likely to win a medal in the Winter Olympics?"

He didn't say he won the gold medal, only the medal.Gao Ziyi knew that although he was not in the team, he still had a good understanding of the current situation of the short track speed skating team.

"Jiaxi."

This is really not an optimistic answer. Lin Jiaxi is already 30 years old, and she is still the most promising medalist in the team.

Gao Ziyi explained again: "After all, he has participated in three Winter Olympics and has the most experience in the team."

Gu Ran hummed lightly, and did not continue this topic.

The two chatted about something else, Gu Ran smiled and said, "Aren't you going to open a club with Miss Qiao?"

Gao Ziyi said: "It was planned like this before, but several executive coaches left before, and the team was short of manpower. Director Cheng and Director Xu asked me and Da Qiao to stay and help. We must not leave."

Gu Ran asked again: "Have you both passed your coaching certificate?"

"I passed the exam. Da Qiao took the exam last year, and I passed the exam this year."

Gu Ran was very happy for the two senior brothers: "Not bad, not bad, I'll treat you to dinner next year during the holidays."

However, Gu Ran didn't wait until next year's holiday.Before New Year's Day, he received a call.

He never expected that this call was from Song Zhixin.

Director Song was very disappointed on the other end of the phone: "It's been more than two years since I retired from the military."

Gu Ran said, "Exactly two and a half years."

Song Zhixin asked: "What did you do after retiring?"

Gu Ran replied: "I went to study and barely got a doctorate."

Song Zhixin smiled: "I almost forgot, you are still a top student."

Gu Ran sort of guessed the purpose of his call, but the other party didn't tell him clearly, but lip-synced, which was very in line with the style of this old leader.

"After retiring for so long, have you returned to the team to see?"

Gu Ran said: "Let's go back once in a while. After all, I've already retired. It's not good to go to the national team all the time and delay everyone's training."

Song Zhixin continued to chat with him: "Did you go to the ice rink to practice during your rest?"

Gu Ran said truthfully, "No."

Song Zhixin criticized him: "This is not good, young people should exercise more."

Gu Ran said: "I will go to the fencing club to practice when I have time."

"Do you still like fencing?"

Gu Ran smiled and said, "I have a friend who used to be on the fencing team."

Song Zhixin sighed: "I have one more year to retire."

Although separated by the mobile phone, when Gu Ran heard this, she couldn't help but straighten her back, knowing that the old leader was about to start talking about business.

"Little Gu, I watched you grow up. I have worked in the winter management center for so many years, and you are the smartest and most talented athlete I have ever seen."

"Your two coaches, Cheng Sen and Xu Qing, were also grown up by me. They are just like you, like my children."

Gu Ranxin said, they are like your children, I don't want to, they are a generation behind.

Song Zhixin continued: "I watched them grow from team members to coaches. When they were in the most difficult time, I was the one who tried my best to keep them."

"Alas..." As he spoke, he sighed earnestly, "I'm getting old, so I should step down from this position. But now that the national team's achievements, I'm stepping down, what should they do? Can you make it to the Winter Olympics?"

After making such a big circle, Gu Ran understood.Isn't this just turning a corner to test whether he has the possibility of coming back, and how many possibilities are there.

If Song Zhixin is sincerely concerned about Cheng Sen and Xu Qing's fate, Gu Ran believes it. After all, these two coaches have led the national team for more than ten years, and their achievements are obvious to all. famous.

But there are other thoughts. In the previous Winter Olympics, the national short track speed skating team showed a dominant performance. The media at home and abroad said that the Chinese team has established a dynasty of its own, and its historical status is higher than that of South Korea. I don't know how much higher it is.

But after only four years, they are very likely to be dissatisfied with the number of entries, let alone compete for the championship.

Four years ago, he won all the men's gold medals. Four years later, he won't get a single gold medal. How many people are waiting to see the jokes of the Chinese team.

Moreover, the South Korean team has once again risen strongly. In the four World Cups, the men's and women's teams have won more than a dozen gold medals in total.

The anger and unwillingness that have been suppressed by the Chinese team for so many years are waiting for an opportunity to vent.

It's not yet the Winter Olympics, and their players can't wait to cover the Chinese team in the interview.

It's hard to survive until Gu Ran, a bug-like genius, retires, and the Winter Olympics will have another beautiful turnaround. A series of foreign social platforms may be so exciting.

It has been two and a half years since Gu Ran retired, and no one has come to discuss with him whether to come back.

He also knew that Song Zhixin would not call him unless it was absolutely necessary.

Isn't this about to retire?The old leader is really anxious.

In the blink of an eye, it was the New Year's Day holiday, so Gu Ran went home and ransacked the box to find out the equipment she had back then.The helmet and goggles can be matched with new ones, but he is still used to the old skates.

He thought that the two coaches would call him soon, whether it was Cheng Sen or Xu Qing, as long as they said that the country needed him, they needed him, Gu Ran would agree without hesitation.

But he waited for three days, and the only person who called him in these three days was Jiang Yan, asking him to go over for dinner.

Gu Ran thought it was Cheng Sen's idea, so she called him over first, and then mentioned it to him at the dinner table.

As a result, he went, Cheng Sen and Xu Qing were not there, Jiang Yan was busy in the kitchen, and Cheng Lan called him over to eat some fruit.

Jiang Yan is in his 70s, and he still remembers what he likes to eat, so he tries to make it for him.

Gu Ran leaned against the door frame of the kitchen: "Master, why don't we stop working so hard, I'll take you and my teacher's wife out to eat."

"Where can we eat our hometown food when we go out?"

Gu Ran said, "You can get it anywhere."

Jiang Yan said, "Are there any authentic ones I made?"

"Definitely not."

"That's it."

Gu Ran rolled up his sleeves to help, but Jiang Yan hurriedly shooed him out: "Can you cook, don't make trouble for me."

Gu Ran couldn't get out: "I will still do the dishes."

He wanted to wash the vegetables, but Jiang Yan didn't stop him.

"Master," Gu Ran was washing a handful of lettuce, and suddenly called out to Jiang Yan, "You said... I'm going back to training now, is there still time for next year's Winter Olympics?"

Jiang Yan asked him, "How old are you this year?"

"thirty."

Jiang Yan thought for a while: "Technology should be fine, can you keep up physically?"

Gu Ran flicked the water off her hands, lifted the hem of her clothes, revealing her eight-pack abs: "Look."

Jiang Yan slapped his abs with the back of his hand: "Yes." Then he changed the subject, "But I don't think it's necessary."

"why?"

"If you have retired, don't go back. Now you are the god in everyone's mind. Don't let them find out that you are actually just a mortal."

Gu Ran discovered for the first time that Master still had such humor: "I was originally a mortal."

After dinner, I accompanied the two elders to watch the news broadcast and weather forecast.Cheng Sen hadn't come back until eight o'clock in the evening.

Gu Ran knew that today's meal had nothing to do with the two coaches. It was simply that his master missed him and asked him to come and talk with him.

The next day was a working day, Gu Ran didn't go home, but went back to school directly.

He now lives in the school's faculty apartment, a two-bedroom house. He and Wei Yuening share a room, sharing the living room, kitchen and bathroom.

Wei Yuening wasn't there when Gu Ran went back, and he didn't turn on the light, just sitting in the living room.

It wasn't until ten o'clock in the evening that the electronic lock beeped. It was Wei Yuening who had returned.

Wei Yuening saw that the lights were turned off in the room, and thought that he would not come back tonight, so he turned on the lights unpreparedly, but saw someone sitting on the sofa in the living room, and was startled by him: "Why don't you turn on the lights? ?”

Gu Ran said, "I'm thinking."

Thinking is their normal state. Sometimes the project does not progress, and it is not uncommon to be able to sit like this for a day.

Gu Ran asked him, "Why did you come back only now?"

Wei Yuening shrugged: "I'm thinking in the laboratory."

He walked to Gu Ran's side, and was surprised to find that there were his skates next to him, which didn't even have skates on them, and he knew that he hadn't used them for a long time.

Wei Yuening was even more surprised: "It's been a long time since I saw you skating."

Gu Ran smiled: "Actually, I have occasionally been on the ice these few years, but you don't know it."

Wei Yuening sat on the coffee table: "What are you planning to do?"

Gu Ran said, "I have an idea."

Wei Yuening guessed what he was going to say, and pressed his hand: "You can stop."

Gu Ran shook her head lightly: "When I retired, my coach asked me a question. The country needs me, and when they need me, will I go back? I said, it's my duty."

Wei Yuening asked, "Has your coach come to see you?"

"No."

Wei Yuening shrugged, meaning what are you "obliged to do"?

Gu Ran said: "I think the country and they both need me now."

Wei Yuening pushed his glasses: "I remember you once said that when Zidane entered the palace for the second time, he was in Real Madrid. Since there is a lesson from Qi Zu, why do you want to repeat the same mistakes?"

Gu Ran smiled: "But, in the first year Qi Zu entered the palace for the second time, he led Real Madrid to win the La Liga championship."

"So what, it didn't break up in the end."

Gu Ran simply took off her eyes, pinched her eyebrows wearily: "This example is not appropriate. Let's change it to before Zidane retires."

"That year, Zidane had already announced his withdrawal from the French national team. But in the World Cup qualifiers that year, the French team was almost eliminated. It was Zizou who returned to the national team and led the French team, which was already in decline at that time, to qualify and enter that year. One year World Cup final."

Wei Yuening shook his head lightly: "The final result is still a mess."

The final result was that Zidane headed Materazzi while the French team had the scene and was sent off with a red card.The French team eventually fell in the penalty shootout and missed the Hercules Cup.

After the World Cup, Zidane announced his official retirement.

"It's not important. What's important is that he is still willing to stand up in the twilight years of his career and bear the responsibilities that should be borne."

Wei Yuening corrected him: "That's not his responsibility."

Gu Ran stopped entangled with him on this issue, and instead asked, "Do you know Liu Changchun?"