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

Although Gu Ranren is a little behind the children, her body proportions are good, she is not tall but her legs are long enough.The tip of the knife slides over the key point just in front of the child.

"Brother is great!" My cousin shouted excitedly from the sidelines.

He even performed well in the final sprint, and Jiang Yan couldn't help applauding him in his heart.Pointing to the young players next to him, he said, "He is ten years old and has been practicing short track speed skating for three years."

Gu Ran took off his helmet and goggles, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and gasped: "He is very professional."

Jiang Yan said, "But you beat him."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "I am older than him, so I can't win by force."

Jiang Yan said with a smile: "You have only practiced for two weeks, and you can reach this level. Don't you know your own strength? Believe me, you are born for short track speed skating."

Gu Ran remained calm: "I'll think about it again."

When Gu Ran came home, Xu Mei was cooking with her aunt in the kitchen. Gu Changfeng waved to him: "How do you feel on the last day?"

Gu Ran threw the skates and backpack on the ground: "It's not bad, it's a very interesting sport."

Gu Changfeng asked him: "So have you decided to continue practicing short track speed skating?"

Gu Ran shook her head: "I haven't decided yet."

Xu Mei came out of the kitchen with the dishes: "It's time to eat, go wash your hands!"

At dinner time, the sports channel was broadcasting a documentary about short track speed skating.

Gu Ran turned his head away, dozens of people were standing in the ice rink, in chaos.The players are passing the baton, some are falling, some are pulling, and the Chinese team is trying to surpass the South Korean team.

Several team members got entangled together, and the camera gave a close-up. Gu Ran clearly saw that the South Korean team reached out and pushed the Chinese team.

Although Gu Ran has only learned short track speed skating for three weeks, he also knows that the South Korean team committed a foul and should be punished to cancel their results.

However, the final result was just the opposite. The referee penalized the Chinese player for a foul and canceled the result.

After the game, the Chinese team members were interviewed and said very angrily: "I think it's too unfair."

"Although I do short track speed skating myself, I can't understand this sport more and more now."

That night, Gu Ran had a dream.

In the dream, he was galloping on the white runway on ice skates, the speed was very fast, and the scenery on both sides receded extremely quickly, almost turning into a phantom.

In front of him, a figure appeared faintly. He couldn't see who that person was, but he saw the South Korean flag on the person's helmet.

Then a girl with a slightly crying voice appeared next to his ear: "I think it's too unfair."

"I can't understand the sport more and more now."

This night, Gu Ran was having the same dream.These two sentences kept ringing in his ears like a loop.

Until the alarm clock rang, it was dawn.

Gu Ran walked out of the bedroom, Xu Mei sat at the dining table and waved to him: "Son, come and have breakfast."

"Anyway, your skating class is over, so I'll report you another one. How about continuing to learn the piano, even though you have passed the tenth level, you can also practice other songs."

Gu Ran didn't speak, but when she turned her head, she saw the skates that were placed in the entrance yesterday.The two words of the Chinese team members sounded in my mind again.

"It's so unfair."

"I don't understand the sport more and more."

Xu Mei walked up to him and patted his shoulder: "Xiaoran, what's the matter, why are you in a daze?"

Gu Ran turned her head and said with a smile, "I want to continue practicing short track speed skating."

----------

In the blink of an eye, it came to January of the next year, and Gu Ran also practiced short track speed skating with Jiang Yan for half a year.

In the past six months, he trained every night and weekend, and went to school during the day, but he didn't delay at both ends, and he was able to do it with ease.

He has improved very fast. In half a year, the city team members who are the same age as him, or even older than him, who have practiced short track speed skating for several years, are no longer his opponents.

It was the weekend, and Gu Ran's training was scheduled during the day.During training in the morning, a few strangers came to the speed skating gym. Gu Ran didn't know any of them, but found that someone was looking at him all the time.

He looked back curiously, the man seemed to raise the corner of his mouth at him, Gu Ran was dragged away by his teammates to change clothes before he could think about what it meant.

Gu Ran didn't take it seriously, turned around and left.

A few days later, when the training ended that night, Jiang Yan deliberately waited for him to leave the speed skating gym together: "I have something to tell you."

Gu Ran casually said to him: "Are you going to retire?"

"Soon." Jiang Yan realized that something was wrong, slapped him on the back of the head, and brought the topic back, "Two days ago, the coach of the provincial team came down to select, saying that he wanted to select 12-16 years old, who had potential The team members participated in the National Youth Short Track Speed ​​Skating U-Series Competition, the first stop in Shanghai."

Gu Ran casually asked, "Could it be me?"

"That's right, only you were chosen."

Gu Ran had an expression of "I knew it": "There was a man who was always staring at me that day."

Jiang Yan said: "That is the current head coach of the Provincial Short Track Speed ​​Skating Team."

Gu Ran asked: "Then shall I go?"

Jiang Yan frowned: "I think it's too early for you to participate in the competition at the national level."

Gu Ran didn't have much interest in this national U-series competition, but Jiang Yan said, "It's just right, I don't really want to go either."

"..."

Jiang Yan was speechless for a moment. He thought he could be a little rebellious as a young man, but he didn't expect him to lie flat.

Director Jiang hurriedly rounded up his words again: "What I mean... It's actually good to go out and exercise. In a few months, you will be 14 years old. A few players in the team who are about your age, from the city and the province Participated in a lot of competitions.”

Gu Ran shrugged: "They want to go this way, but I'm not sure."

Jiang Yan put his arms around his shoulders: "Athletes have a limited professional lifespan. For some technical sports, the age of [-] or [-] is the time when they can achieve the best results. Some talented athletes, after the development period, will be affected by physical conditions. limit, and never broke through.”

"The golden age of short track speed skating is generally between 18 and 26 years old, but before that, athletes will have to go through big and small competitions, so that they have the opportunity to accumulate a lot of money."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "Isn't it too early to talk about career life and golden age at this stage?"

Jiang Yan waved his hand: "It's getting late."

"You are smart and talented, and what is rare is that you can endure hardships and stand hard work. But after all, the time is a little short, and now is the golden age for laying the foundation. Actually, I also want to take care of you more, but..."

"Short track speed skating is different from other racing events. The field of competition is changing rapidly, and accidents may happen at any time. Only if you have solid basic skills, and have enough delicate and comprehensive skills, can you not be surprised by the changes and better respond to the field. various situations."

"You go to the provincial team. They have a more professional training team and venue. I hope you can get better training after you go there."

Gu Ran looked at him: "Do you really think that my current level can go to the provincial team?"

"The provincial team does not look at the level, but your potential."

Jiang Yan went on to say: "The U-series competition is just an amateur competition, and the participating players are all young players who have not registered with the Winter Management Center. They are also top players of the same age group from across the country, so you should go and learn more."

Gu Ran raised her eyebrows: "I can only learn more, can't I win an award?"

Jiang Yan tapped him on the head, "I mean, even if you go, you will only participate in one competition, and you may not be able to stay in the provincial team."

When he said this, Gu Ran was really interested: "Then... let's try."

Jiang Yan deliberately teased him: "Don't you want a final exam?"

Gu Ran spread her hands: "It doesn't matter if you don't take the exam, some schools want me."

"So confident?"

"I've said it all, it's no problem to get into an ideal university."

Jiang Yan patted him on the shoulder twice: "Report next Monday, then start the training camp, and compete from February 2th to 9th."

When Gu Ran heard about this time, she was happy: "It's just right, I can still take the final exam."

Jiang Yan knocked on his forehead: "Do you know that you can't have both?"

"It makes sense... let's forget it then."

Jiang Yan sighed: "If you really enter the provincial team, then you are a professional athlete,"

Gu Ran smiled and said: "Master, don't hint at me. I will definitely give priority to learning and short-track speed skating. If I can balance the two, I can continue to practice."

He was so attentive that Jiang Yan had nothing to say.

Gu Ran's literacy exams never disappoint.Before the results came out, he was able to estimate the total score with confidence, and mentioned to his parents about going to the provincial capital for a training camp.

Gu Changfeng and Xu Mei were naturally happy, and said they would take him to dinner to celebrate.

Gu Ran has a plan in his work, and the salutes are already packed: "Training starts tomorrow. Since I have decided to go, I must obey the arrangement and take it seriously. I'd better go to the provincial team to report tonight."

Along the way, Gu Changfeng was in a bad mood: "Look, my son has practiced short track speed skating for more than half a year, and now he has entered the provincial team."

"I just went to participate in the national U-series competition, and I haven't officially joined the provincial team yet."

"That's not bad." Gu Changfeng suddenly frowned and began to think about a question, "My son has excellent grades in studies and is good at skating. The key is that he is handsome. Why am I so good at giving birth?"

Xu Mei glared at him: "Did you give birth?"

Gu Changfeng changed his words in a polite manner: "Why is my wife so good at giving birth?" He turned back and asked Gu Ran, "Tell me, what gift do you want, Dad will definitely satisfy you."

Gu Ran thought about it, and he didn't want anything, it's better to discount it: "Send me a red envelope."

"Row!"

The ice training base in Province J was newly built, and the conditions were good. Xu Mei and Gu Changfeng were quite satisfied. They explained some things in life to Gu Ran and left.

Gu Ran was the last to come, and the group of four of their team members who came to the training camp happened to be fully occupied.Only the provincial team had a dormitory and a bed was vacant, so they arranged for Gu Ran to enter.

The person who took him to the dormitory was his head coach of the provincial team, surnamed Wang.While walking, I introduced the situation to him: "Tomorrow morning at 04:30, gather at the gymnasium on time, half an hour to prepare for activities, and go on ice from 07:30 to [-]:[-]."

Gu Ran thought she heard it wrong: "What time?"

Director Wang repeated: "Gather at 04:30, you have to get up at four o'clock."

Gu Ran instinctively sighed: "It's so early!"

"The daytime should be reserved for the provincial team. You can only advance the time. The provincial team also has to get up at six o'clock for morning exercises, so they sleep an hour and a half longer than you."

This hour and a half is troublesome, worrying about disturbing his teammates, Gu Ran didn't even dare to set the alarm clock.

When you first arrive, you must first establish a good relationship with your roommates.

Gu Ran took out all the snacks his mother prepared for him, divided them into three portions, and gave them to his teammates: "Brothers, I have to get up at four o'clock in the morning, so I will try to lighten it up as much as possible. Be more tolerant. I will take care of the dormitory hygiene in the future."

He smiled with crooked eyebrows and two small dimples on his face, everyone liked it.The key point is that he is soft-spoken, and he also took the initiative to take care of the dormitory hygiene. The seniors not only didn't say anything, they were quite happy.

At four o'clock in the morning the next day, Gu Ran's biological clock hadn't been adjusted yet, so she was really sleepy and couldn't get up.Suddenly, a hand patted his quilt twice, and someone whispered in his ear: "Little guy, get up for training."

Gu Ran opened her eyes, and saw a dim yellow night light lit up on the opposite desk.

The person who woke him up just now was the person sleeping opposite him, Gu Ran remembered that his name was Gao Ziyi.

Seeing that he woke up, Gao Ziyi returned to his bed.Gu Ran seized the time, put on her clothes in the dark, and went to the bathroom to wash up.The equipment has been prepared the night before, and you can walk on your back.

At four o'clock in the morning, the small team members opened the curtain and walked out of the apartment building in small groups.

The cold wind was blowing towards the face with snowflakes, and Gu Ran shivered from the cold. She quickly wrapped up her down jacket and walked towards the gymnasium at a faster pace.

Just half an hour of preparatory activities is already worth the amount of exercise that Gu Ran usually does in a day.Plus two and a half hours of ice training, after the end, Gu Ran wished she could lie down on the spot and never get up again.

However, this is not the worst, and even more incredible things are yet to come.

After the training in the morning, the team members went to the cafeteria to have breakfast, and then Director Wang called for a meeting.

At the meeting, Director Wang mainly talked about the competition. There are two things that are closely related to the team members. These two things may not be important to most of the small players, but to Gu Ran, they are all related to him. closely related.

"The U-Series has been held for many years, and all the outstanding athletes you have heard of have participated in this event."

"This year, the U series will usher in a major reform. The competition is divided into three stations, namely February, March, April, and the finals in May. The top eight players in each event are eligible Participate in the final finals. The national youth team will also select outstanding players from the finals."

"The top three in each event at each station can participate in the youth group competition of the China Cup Short Track Speed ​​Skating Elite League starting in September."

"This sounds very exciting, right, but I want to remind you that standing here today does not mean that you will be able to participate in all three races. If you do not perform well, you will not have the opportunity to participate in the next training camp and competition."

"So, you have to go all out in every game, do you hear me clearly?"

The team members below replied in unison: "Listen clearly!"

王指导接着说道：“然后就是关于你们分组的问题，以往的比赛，按年龄分为12-13岁、13-14岁、14-15岁以及15-16岁年龄组。”

"However, this year, the latter two groups have been merged into one group. That is to say, all players who have reached the age of 6 before June 30 this year will be assigned to this group."

Gu Ran was shocked, it was not too early and not too late, he happened to be 6 years old on June 30th.

In other words, he is likely to be the youngest athlete in this group.

Gu Ran hadn't digested the problem of grouping, and more severe blows followed.

Director Wang continued: "Physical fitness is the most important thing in competitive sports. In order to make all participating units realize the importance of youth physical fitness development, effectively improve the physical fitness training level of young athletes, and enhance the overall strength of our country's skating reserve talents..."

He, blah blah, read a lot of documents, and finally got to the point: "Starting from this year, the Skating Association will determine the eligibility for the competition through the form of basic physical fitness. That is to say, before the official competition, you will have a physical fitness test. to qualify for the competition.”

Sure enough, as soon as this remark came out, there was a lot of wailing below.

This frightening physical fitness test has been carried out in some summer projects one after another in the past few years.How many well-known athletes who have won rankings in international competitions have all fallen in the physical test.

Finally, this year it is the turn of the ice and snow project.

The elimination rate of the physical test is very high, even for famous players, let alone these fledgling players.

At this time, Director Wang actually smiled: "But don't worry everyone, the document says that 14-16 years old is the golden age for strengthening physical fitness. Therefore, in this competition, the physical fitness test is only carried out in this age group. But! Others The group can't relax, maybe next time the whole group will have to do it."

Hearing this, there was only one question in Gu Ran's mind - why is he here?

He was lucky to be the youngest competitor in Kua's age group.Physically weak, he can only participate in the 500-meter race at present, and he has to be forced to participate in the physical fitness test.

He went back if he wanted to, but he heard Director Wang say: "Don't even think about retiring from the game. If you miss the game without reason, the team points will be deducted and you will be fined. From now on, you will never want to enter the provincial team again." .”

"..."