On August 15, at the National Stadium, the Olympic track and field competition officially kicked off. Zhang Guan will also face the situation of track and field, tennis, and basketball.
The track and field competitions of this Olympic Games are only held in the morning and evening, and no track and field competitions are arranged in the afternoon. This is good news for Zhang Guan because many of the tennis and basketball games are held in the afternoon, and Zhang Guan can just play as time goes by.
On the morning of August 15, there were six track and field competitions, all of which were preliminaries or qualifying rounds. Zhang Guan will appear in the men's 100m preliminary contest.
The 100-meter sprint preliminaries have always been the track and field event with the largest number of participants, and this year is the same. As many as 80 runners are participating in the 100-meter sprint.
In the athlete preparation area, Powell approached Zhang Guan with a smile on his face, gave Zhang Guan a Jamaican hug, and said, "Zhang Guan, long time no see."
"Yes, I haven't seen you in more than a year. How about it, can you adapt to the weather in the capital?" Zhang Guan responded.
"Fortunately, the environment of the Olympic Village is very good, and the facilities are also very complete. I like the food here. There are many varieties. I thought I would only have Chinese food, but I didn't expect that there are Italian dishes and Turkish beef patties that I like." Powell said.
"I was also worried that you will find it too hot here!" Zhang Guan said with a smile.
"Hot?" Powell shook his head, "It's nothing compared to Jamaica. It's you who didn't participate in track and field competitions last year. Now many people feel that they are not as brave as they were back then!"
"Really? In the finals, we will have to compete." Zhang Guan said.
"Don't fight with me. You, a monster who can run within 9.7 seconds, I am not your opponent." Powell admitted directly, and then he said, "But Usain (Bolt) wants to challenge you. "
Powell was talking, looking at the starting line. At this time, the first group of preliminaries was preparing, and Bolt played in the first group, he was in the third lane.
"I heard, Bolt's speed has been close to 9.7 seconds." Zhang Guan said.
Powell lowered his voice and said, "It takes more than 9.7 seconds. He can often run within 9.7 seconds in training. I heard that his top speed in training is already close to 9.6 seconds. How do you feel? Stressed? It looks like you are not surprised at all!"
Zhang Guan was indeed not surprised because he knew that Bolt's 100-meter world record reached 9.58 seconds, so Powell showed close to 9,6 seconds, which was obviously not Bolt's limit.
Just listening to Powell continue talking, "In the past year or so, several powerful young people have appeared on the track and field. Take the US team as an example. Gatlin did not make it out of the US team's domestic qualifiers. But this time apart from Gay, there are no strong players in the American team."
While the two were talking, the shooting of the order on the field sounded.
In the first group of the preliminaries, the strength of the athletes was not bad, Bolt rushed to the first place relatively easily, and then led to the finish line and successfully advanced to the second round.
Powell played in the second round, and he was also in the same group as his old acquaintance Kim Collins. Powell and Collins easily ran into the line within 10.2 seconds, hand in hand.
Among the next few groups, such as Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, Ariza of Ghana, Nobuharu Asahara, and Naoki Tsukahara of Japan, Tyson Gay of the United States, Obi of Portugal Kviru, Francis of Qatar and others also advanced smoothly. Also, some young players who have emerged in recent years have been promoted.
Zhang Guan competed in the sixth group. The players in this group are not strong. In addition to Zhang Guan, only British player Edgar and American player Davis Parton are considered to have some strength. Both Edgar and Parton Once ran within 10 seconds, in addition to a French player, an Oman player, and a Bulgarian player who are also Olympic athletes, the remaining two are not the Maldives and Laos. Even the B-standard of the Olympics has not been reached. It was through the IAAF application to participate in the Olympics, which is the so-called backdoor player.
This grouping can be said to be perfect for Zhang Guan. There is no world's top strong player. The three most powerful players in the group are guaranteed to qualify, and there are two behind the door. For Zhang Guan, this can be said to be the perfect equipment to warm up and find the state.
This grouping is a kind of care for Zhang Guan. As a host player, it is strange that there is no special care.
Although this is only a 100-meter sprint preliminary, it has attracted much attention because of the crown. Especially those athletes who are interested in competing for medals have focused their attention.
Zhang Guan has not appeared in the international arena for nearly two years. As a world record holder, Zhang Guan will naturally attract everyone's attention. Everyone does not know how Zhang Guan is now, or how much strength Zhang Guan has left.
Zhang Guan was preparing on the track, and the athletes below began to talk quietly.
"Zhang Guan hasn't participated in track and field competitions for so long. I don't know if the athletic state has recovered."
"I think it's difficult. The athletic state of track and field athletes is based on high-intensity training. Zhang Guan has been playing tennis for the whole year last year. I am afraid I don't have time to practice track and field!"
"Don't forget that Zhang Guan at the peak ran out of 9.68 seconds. I think even if he hasn't recovered to his heyday, there should be no problem running within 10 seconds!"
"That's for sure. Zhang Guan's achievement in the Olympics is within 10 seconds, which is his result just over two months ago. I think Zhang Guan's current limit speed should be able to reach 9.80 seconds!"
"9.80 seconds is not bad, it is still the top level in the world, maybe he can hope to win the championship!
"Impossible, 9.80 seconds, even Powell can run this result, not to mention there is a Bolt." This person continued, "Bolt's speed is close to 9.70 seconds, perhaps in the Olympic finals. In the middle, he can run within 9.70 seconds."
"I am also more optimistic about Bolt."
"me too..."
"Well, the game has started. What is the state of Zhang Guan's game? This preliminary match should be able to see some clues!"
...
The starter pulled the trigger with a snap, and all the athletes rushed out.
"At the beginning of the race, Zhang Guan started very well!" As soon as the commentator's voice fell, the athlete's starting reaction time appeared under the TV screen.
Zhang Guan's starting reaction time is not the fastest one, but it is not too slow, it is an excellent result.
"Zhang Guan..." The word "oil" in the commentator's mouth hadn't been uttered yet, but he saw that Zhang Guan was already in the leading position.
"Lead!" the commentator blurted out.
At this time, the athlete only at the 30 meters line.