Tim Montgomery, an American sprinter, broke the world record for men's 100-meter sprint with a score of 9.78 seconds in 2002, that is to say, he was the holder of the 100-meter sprint world record before Zhang Guan, and can be regarded as Zhang Guan's predecessor. It was only in 2003 that he was caught in a drug scandal and was subsequently punished by a ban.
Perhaps it was because Montgomery had not come out for a long time, and Zhang Guan had forgotten about this person. He asked, "Why did Montgomery come? Isn't he still suspended?"
"Montgomery's suspension period has just passed, which is also the blessing of Gatlin." Director Ma said.
"Is he like Gatlin, taking medicine to treat mental illness?" Zhang Guan said with a smile.
Director Ma shook his head, "Last month, Gatlin submitted his first commutation application to the IAAF. He provided a urine test and blood test report for half a year, proving that he did not take stimulants these days. The IAAF Anti-Doping Committee agreed to give Gatlin to reduce the penalty for a certain period. With this precedent, Montgomery also submitted a test report and application by the gourd, and his suspension period would not have much left, so they straightened out the two-year suspension." Director Ma looked at the window and thought about it, and then said, "It's not just Montgomery who came back, but Marion Jones, the female trapeze, is coming back."
"The track and field community in the United States has been very lively recently." Zhang Guan could not help sighing.
"It's very lively. Nine people are participating in this competition, including Montgomery who got out of the wild card this time. Although he has not participated in the competition for two years, as an opponent, he should not be taken lightly. No one knows his current level, but the foundation of the years of practice is still there. The situation of the athlete who does not fall and rise after the return is not impossible to figure out." Director Ma thought for a while and then said, "And Shawn Crawford, changed coaches in May last year. Since then he has been in a state of ups and downs, but in several domestic competitions this year, Crawford has performed very well."
"The coach was changed in May last year? Because of doping?" Zhang Guan asked.
Director Ma nodded, "Although Crawford is not using stimulants, his coach has problems. The name of Crawford's coach is Graham and he has a nickname in the United States-Drug King!"
"Drug King? This nickname domineering, he seems to be a master of doping." Zhang Guan said.
"No one expected that the impact of the doping scandal last year would be so great, involving so many track and field athletes, and may even affect the pattern of the next Olympic Games. Okay, that all, for now, you should get a good rest, I will go first." Director Ma turned to leave.
"I'll send you." Zhang Guan followed up, but Director Ma turned back.
Director Ma said "There is one more thing I forgot to say. If you run for the 400-meter sprint, you can fight for the results. It doesn't matter if you can't get the results. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"Have you heard anything again?" Zhang Guan asked.
Director Ma hesitated, and finally said, "Not long ago, Jeremy Varina ran out of 44 seconds and 12 seconds, which is also the best record of the 400-meter project this year!"
"44 seconds 12?" Zhang Guan felt a little nervous this time, and Zhang Guan also knows that Varina's limit is not here. If Varina runs within 44 seconds, Zhang Guan will not feel unexpected.
...
"This year 's IAAF Golden League is about to kick off in Oslo, Norway. The biggest suspense in the Golden League is naturally the attribution of the final million gold award, and each of the races in the station is also full of attention. Then this year's gold is the biggest highlight of the Oslo League match! Let me reveal to everyone!" The host hung a professional smile and reached out to guide everyone to the big screen beside him.
A picture of Zhang Guan appeared on the big screen, and the host continued. "Zhang Guan! I think many viewers in front of the TV know him! The world record holder of the men's 100-meter sprint, the Olympic champion, broke three times last year. He won the world record for the men's 100-meter sprint event. He won six million games in the Golden League and won the Million Grand Prize, and won the Lawrence Best Male Athlete Award not long ago. In this Golden League, he not only has to maintain the previous world record that Montgomery contested for, but also faced a series of powerful opponents such as Powell, Crawford, and other challenges, but these are not the key..."
"The key thing I want to say is that Zhang Guan not only has to participate in the men's 100-meter sprint but also the men's 400-meter sprint! Audiences, you heard it right, he participated in two events in the track and field gold league. And before that, no athlete has ever participated in two events in the same Golden League! Let's not discuss Zhang Guan's strength in the 400-meter sprint. As long as Zhang Guan can run smoothly, he will make history as the first athlete who participated in two events in the Golden League! "
For many spectators, Montgomery's comeback may not be very attractive, after all, he has been away from the game for too long. But Zhang Guan's participation in the 400-meter sprint race can attract global attention. Zhang Guan's achievements created last year are dazzling. At this time, Zhang Guan is the most well-known track and field athlete in the world. His every move will naturally attract a lot of attention.
Zhang Guan has ruled the men's 100-meter sprint. Many people are also expecting Zhang Guan to rule the 400-meter sprint, but those with common sports knowledge have expressed that they are not optimistic about Zhang Guan. The difference between the 100-meter dash and the 400-meter dash is too big. From a professional perspective, these two events can be regarded as two completely different events. Many people feel that Zhang Guan is afraid of participating in the 400-meter section, which is probably the level of playing soy sauce, perhaps just to brush up the achievement of "participating in two events in the Golden League at the same time".
What's more, in the 400-meter sprint event, there is an insurmountable mountain: Jeremy Varina!
...
Coach Hart pushed the notebook to Varina and then started playing the video stored in the notebook.
"That contestant is Zhang Guan? What kind of competition is this?" Varina asked.
"I just got the 400-meter race from the East Asian Games from other coaches. That was November last year, Zhang Guan participated in the 400-meter sprint for the first time." Hart said.
"From a technical point of view, Zhang Guan's technique at that time was not as good as the indoor track and field championships of this year." Varina stared at the computer screen carefully and then said, "But his speed is faster than that of the indoor track and field championships."
"Yes, he ran faster at the time, and the final score was 44.50 seconds." With Hart's voice falling, Zhang Guan on the computer screen also crossed the finish line, and the time was fixed at 44.50 seconds.
Varina frowned for more than a minute and then said, "I think Zhang Guan's speed is likely to be faster. If he runs this way, he may eventually run into 44.30 seconds."
"Yes, as I expected, it is possible to increase the speed by 0.2 seconds if he runs at the limit." Hart patted Varina's shoulder, "Jeremy, you underestimate Zhang Guan a little bit before, if he runs to 44.30 seconds, it can threaten you."
"I know, I will take the game seriously." Varina took a deep breath, and then said, "Tomorrow's game, I will run seriously! I will not lose to Zhang Guan."
...
On June 2, the IAAF Golden League Oslo station officially started.
The 100-meter sprint battle took place in the morning, while the 400-meter sprint race was scheduled in the afternoon.
However, the schedule is still very unfavorable for Zhang Guan. Although the 100-meter sprint race is in the morning, the start time has reached 11:30, which is the finale of the entire morning race. If the previous races are not smooth, it may still be postponed; the 400-meter sprint race is the first event held on the runway in the afternoon. The time is 1:00, which means that Zhang Guan has only one and a half hours between the two games.
For any athlete in the world, playing two games in such a short time is a severe test for physical strength, but it does not matter to Zhang Guan. He has a physical recovery potion and he can ignore the problem of physical exertion. But before the game, Zhang Guan still increased his state and physical strength to more than 95.
"This year's Powell started the pinnacle of his professional career. He must be more difficult to deal with than last year. If he is taken lightly, he may lose to him; and Montgomery, the former world record holder, now it hard to say how strong his strength is. If he is stronger than he was then, it's a big threat to me. Let's fill up the state first!" Zhang Guan took a deep breath, lion fights rabbit, don't ever take it lightly, he has decided that he will run towards the goal of the new world record.
Besides Zhang Guan, Powell's expression was slightly dignified.
After recovering from injury, Powell has just found the state of competition among the Commonwealth athletes not long ago. As a challenger, he will once again challenge Zhang Guan. Powell has no expectations of the final million prize in the Golden League. His goal is not high, as long as he can win against Zhang Guan once this year. But what surprised Powell was that Montgomery came back.
Powell began to participate in the world track and field competition in 2003. At that time, Montgomery was already caught in the drug scandal, so Powell did not have the experience of playing with Montgomery, and he could not understand the truth of Montgomery.
Montgomery is not tall, only one meter six or eight, and has a babyface. This is thirty years old who looks like one of Zhang Guan's peers. At this time, Montgomery seemed to be very relaxed and did not return to the restraint and tension of participating in the international competition for the first time.
But in fact, Montgomery's heart has already been unable to bear the excitement.
"I'm finally back on the field again! Things are right and wrong, now I have strangers on both sides! But fortunately, the Chinese named Zhang Guan is also there." Montgomery stood on the starting blocks with both feet and bowed to get down.
"The former world record holder came back and defeated the current world record holder. This is a perfect script!" Montgomery took a deep breath and prepared the starting position, "This game will announce to the world that I am back on top!"