The Su God of the Reopening of the Sports Arena

Chapter 2484 Eight Years of Waiting! Leaving the Medal at the Bird's Nest! (Wishing Su Shen a successful retirement)
The moment the spikes landed at the ninth hurdle, they made a short, sharp sound as they scraped against the rubber surface, like a thin needle slicing through the tense air on the track.

Shubenkov's body was still carrying the momentum from the hurdles, and the moment the slight bend in his knees completed the cushioning, he was already in the three-step distance between the hurdles.

It launched a silent comeback that was enough to rewrite the finals.

For top athletes, the three steps between hurdles are not simply a connection, but an ultimate condensation of speed, rhythm and power. The landing point, the angle of force, and the body posture of each step have been honed through countless trials. When fatigue accumulates to its peak, any slight deviation may lead to a missed opportunity.

Shubenkov intends to use these three steps to transform himself from a follower to a leader.

He's waited so long.

It's now.

Bang bang bang.

His stride frequency remained rigidly even to the point of being demanding, without any panicked acceleration or rhythm disruption due to fatigue.

Each step lands with precision, as if measured with a ruler. The forefoot firmly grips the ground, while the arch exerts a slight force, efficiently transmitting the ground's reaction force to the calf muscles. During the push-off, the hip, knee, and ankle joints work like precisely meshed gears, generating force and extending in sync, without any unnecessary swaying or wasted energy.

This "machine-like" stability is particularly deadly when everyone is being dragged down by muscle soreness and their breathing rhythm is slightly disordered.

Other athletes might unconsciously increase their stride length due to the desire to sprint, and their stride frequency might fluctuate slightly due to the urgency to catch up, but Shubenkov's movements—

It's as precise as copy and paste.

Every detail is exactly the same as the standard movements that are repeated countless times in training.

After the ninth hurdle, Xie Wenjun, Merritt, and Patchment were still running side by side, their figures almost overlapping on the red track, their shoulders intersecting and their steps close together. None of them noticed the black figure following them like a shadow.

Shubenkov's arm swings were not large, but they maintained a fixed rhythm, as regular as the hands of a clock, propelling his body forward.

His torso leaned slightly forward, his core muscles tightened like steel cables, focusing all his strength on the "forward" trajectory without any unnecessary exertion—his shoulders didn't shrug, his waist didn't sway, and even his head remained stable, his gaze fixed on the tenth column ahead.

It was as if the entire world had shrunk to just the distance between him and the railing.

The first step is "building up strength and laying the groundwork." Shubenkov's stride increases with a fixed gradient, extending slightly further than the previous step, while always maintaining the integrity of the movement.

When Shubenkov lands on the ball of his foot, his toes are slightly turned inward, which ensures the stability of the landing and leaves the best angle for the push-off.

Then, the calf muscles contract rapidly the moment of landing.

The body's inertia is combined with the ground's reaction force to propel the body forward.

In this step, he didn't rush to close the gap with the three people in front of him. Instead, while maintaining a steady rhythm, he subtly increased the efficiency of his power exertion.

This means that the hip extension is slightly greater than in the previous sections, and the quadriceps on the front of the thighs contract explosively, making the propulsion force of this step stronger than before.

The three ahead were still engrossed in their close contest.

Xie Wenjun focused on adjusting her stride to align with the starting point.

Merritt maintained a calm pace.

Pachment, on the other hand, is preparing for a high-frequency sprint.

No one noticed the figure closing in from behind.

The second step is the "prelude to approaching and surpassing". Shubenkov's stride frequency remained stable, but the increase in stride length further increased, and the speed of his body's propulsion improved imperceptibly.

His right shoulder was now level with Xie Wenjun's left shoulder, the air cut by their shoulder line, forming an invisible airflow barrier. With this step, his push-off was even more powerful, the contraction of his calf muscles reaching its limit, and when his toes left the ground, they even left a shallow mark on the rubber.

The forward lean of his torso increased slightly, and the core muscles tightened even more, concentrating all his power on the propulsion of his lower limbs. His arm swing rhythm remained the same, but the amplitude of the swing increased slightly, providing additional forward momentum for his body.

At this moment, Merritt was the first to notice the change in airflow. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the approaching black figure. His brows furrowed slightly, and he subconsciously quickened the speed of his arm swing, but he still couldn't stop Shubenkov from getting closer.

At this point, they realized that someone was approaching.

The top three all assumed that one of them had pulled off a powerful move, but a quick glance revealed...

Where did this sound come from?

It is not any of the three.

third step.

It is "the moment of decisive victory and reaching the summit".

In this step, Shubenkov's body fully stretches out, his hips open completely, and his knees and ankles extend to their maximum angles simultaneously.

The moment the forefoot leaves the ground.

It unleashed the last of its energy.

His stride length reached the maximum value for running between hurdles.

His body shot forward like an arrow, his hips leading Xie Wenjun by half a body length, his chest completely passing Xie Wenjun's torso, their shadows on the red track intersecting and separating in an instant.

This is the step we're putting our strength into.

Without the slightest hesitation.

There was nothing left unsaid.

It was the ultimate test of his years of training results—muscle endurance, nerve control, and movement precision were perfectly integrated at this moment.

As Shubenkov's foot was about to land, the hurdles for the tenth hurdle were already clearly visible ahead.

And he has already firmly secured his position on the track...

The first one.

Yes, striking after the opponent has made their move.

We've been preparing for this for so long.

We've waited so long.

Finally, after the 9th column.

Successful leap.

The moment the third step landed.

Shubenkov's knees bent slightly, providing efficient cushioning. Without any pause, he immediately transitioned into the preparatory movement for the tenth hurdle. The tension in his hamstring muscles was instantly maximized, his body leaned slightly forward, and his gaze remained fixed on the hurdle, as if the thrilling comeback he had just witnessed was merely a routine transition between hurdles in his countless training sessions.

He didn't turn around, nor did he make any gesture of celebration, because he knew that the challenge of the tenth hurdle was still severe, and the three people behind him would never give up easily.

The three people behind them felt the drastic change in airflow almost at the same moment, only to realize that the previous close race had been completely broken.

Xie Wenjun paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected that Shubenkov would overtake him at this final hurdle.

Merritt's breathing became slightly disordered, his composure was broken, and he began to quicken his pace in an attempt to catch up.

Patchment let out a low growl and sprinted forward, trying to close the gap again before the tenth hurdle.

But Shubenkov's silhouette stood out clearly on the red track.

His stability and precision are like a silent knife.

Between the ninth and tenth columns, a path leading to first place has been forcibly cut open.

They firmly held onto their lead.

These three steps may seem brief.

Yet it embodies the full strength and wisdom of Shubenkov, a top athlete. There are no explosive sprints, no fancy moves, only precise landing points, extremely stable rhythm, and efficient and perfect power generation.

Shubenkov used these three steps to tell everyone that in the 110-meter hurdles, true victory often stems from the ultimate pursuit of detail.

It stems from absolute control over technology under extreme conditions.

The short ten meters between the ninth and tenth columns.

These are the only three steps.

This became the key to Shubenkov's comeback and victory.

It became the most breathtaking moment of the final.

"My God, Shubenkov is in first place?!"

Yang Jian was somewhat surprised, after all, he had just been basking in the joy of his team being in first place.

I never expected the situation to change so rapidly.

Liu Xiang, on the contrary, became much calmer.

It seems they had anticipated this situation from the beginning.

He just spoke immediately.

"Don't be nervous, you must not be nervous, you must stay calm at this time."

"Never lose your rhythm."

"Never follow the other person's rhythm."

What he said here is truly invaluable advice.

As the king of rhythm on the field.

He knows it better than anyone else.

What should be done here?

When someone overtakes you.

When facing an extreme challenge from someone.

The more you try to copy it.

The more they want to fight with someone.

The more likely rhythm problems will occur.

At this point, what you need to do is use strong mental fortitude to control your mind.

Focus your attention on the technical details.

Because that's the only way.

Only then can you potentially disrupt someone else's rhythm.

Of course, it's easier said than done.

After all, on the field, facing the excitement of the game, it's hard to say that you can control your mind to that extent.

So if you're in a hurry...

That's it.

Liu Xiang understood perfectly.

Xie Wenjun is just like me.

The weakness lies in flat running.

There are problems with running flat.

In the final 10-meter sprint.

This can easily lead to a disadvantage.

If it's a tie, proceed to the 10th column.

They are all very likely to lose the game.

All he has to do is get past the 10th column.

You also need to maintain a certain positional advantage.

Only in this way can we have a chance to win the game!

On the playing field.

The tenth column is the final gate of this final match.

Xie Wenjun was also aware of this.

The ninth column shows parallel progress and a quiet catch-up.

The track tension has been pushed to the brink of breaking.

Shubenkov's breakthrough was like a steel needle driven into the center of this tension.

Tearing apart instantly.

The immense impact swept through the hearts of everyone present.

Happiness and worry can switch in almost a second.

This is also the charm of track and field.

In the mere ten meters between the ninth and tenth hurdles, Russian athlete Shubenkov executed a silent comeback with almost mechanical stability and precision.

He suddenly rose from behind everyone else to first place.

Meanwhile, Xie Wenjun, Merritt, and Patchment kept pace with each other at the limits of high speed and fatigue, the three forces carrying different technical philosophies rushing together toward the final hurdle.

For Xie Wenjun, the tenth hurdle was not a simple "hurdle clearing" but a strategic decisive battle where "it is imperative to take the lead".

He knew that his final running speed was not as fast as his pursuers behind him. Only by relying on the "toe hurdle" technique derived from Liu Xiang's system at this hurdle, he could solidify his lead into a decisive position and hold onto the victory before the finish line.

The tenth column thus becomes a triple arena of technology, will, and strategy.

Every detail of the movement determines who wins the championship.

The last column.

I must do my best.

We cannot let all our previous efforts go to waste here.

If the ninth column is about "speed boundary control," then the core of the tenth column is "decisive output." Having reached their personal physical limits, the competitors must solve three intertwined technical challenges:
How to maintain absolute precision in the timing of force exertion when muscle fatigue has reached its peak.

How to avoid losing your rhythm under the psychological impact of "counter-killing and being counter-killed".

How to perfectly integrate the speed and inertia in front of the hurdle with the explosive power of the take-off to achieve the decisive effect of "taking the lead as soon as the hurdle is cleared".

The technical principle behind this process is essentially the complete elimination of "technical redundancy" and the extreme focus on the "decisive point".

It is the accumulation of technical expertise from the first nine columns.

A one-time, high-efficiency release is performed on the last bar.

Specifically, the technical points in column ten focus on three dimensions:

The "strategic prediction" of hurdle rhythm is no longer the "micro-prediction" of the ninth hurdle, but a "strategic positioning" based on one's own technical characteristics and the opponent's condition. The leader needs to fine-tune the rhythm to lock the starting point at the position that is "most effortless and can most widen the gap"; the pursuer needs to disrupt the leader's technical rhythm by disrupting the rhythm, creating space to overtake. This prediction is not just a simple physical adjustment, but a combination of technique and strategy.

The "power chain peak" of the hip-knee-ankle joint's power generation is further upgraded to "power chain peak output"—that is, at the moment of hip take-off, all available energy in the body is precisely injected into the "forward propulsion" direction, forming a brief and violent burst of power. This output is not blind force exertion, but a "controllable burst" within the technical framework, avoiding movement deformation due to excessive force exertion.

The "decisive connection" between hurdle clearance and landing: Upgrading the "kinetic energy loop" of the ninth hurdle to the "decisive connection" - the streamlined posture when clearing the hurdle is not only to reduce wind resistance, but also to solidify the speed advantage on the hurdle; the elastic cushioning when landing is no longer a simple "energy transfer", but a "landing and acceleration" connection, directly converting the speed advantage after clearing the hurdle into a flat running advantage towards the finish line.

For Xie Wenjun, this transition was particularly crucial.

He needs to establish a flat running advantage immediately after the tenth hurdle by landing precisely on his toes, thus making up for his weakness in flat running speed.

Again--

For players with different technical styles, the way these principles are applied varies significantly from person to person.

Xie Wenjun's "pointe hurdles" emphasizes "decisive victory through precision".

Merritt's "dynamic relaxation" seeks "peak efficiency in ease".

Pachment's "high-frequency agility" highlights "the decisive role of frequency connection".

Shubenkov's "stereotype effect" demonstrates "the counterattack of stability in standardization".

Shubenkov has done what he was supposed to do.

Who among the rest can maintain their unique characteristics until the end?

Whoever gets the medal.

Eliminate your opponent.

Ah Jun.

You need to stay calm.

The 10th column.

We must stay calm.

Sun Haiping felt tense upon seeing this.

If Liu Xiang is in the lead here.

He certainly wouldn't be that nervous.

They've even started planning to celebrate ahead of schedule.

But not everyone is Liu Xiang.

An athlete of Liu Xiang's caliber can only be described as a gift from heaven.

One like this only happens every few decades.

It might even take longer before one is released.

Therefore, Liu Xiang's situation cannot be used to judge the other contestants.

Xie Wenjun has done a very good job.

I never expected him to fight his way to first place in this competition.

Just now, I played against Jamaican player McLeod.

Winning a battle is always a cause for celebration.

Now that they've lost first place, how can they maintain their composure and keep their chances of winning a medal alive?
That's what's truly important now.

It's understandable that Sun Haiping is anxious now.

In this situation, you lack strong mental fortitude.

Don't even think about stabilizing the situation.

This is the most difficult part for non-genius players.

In fact, let's not even talk about non-geniuses.

Most geniuses would face such a situation.

Wouldn't it be easy to lose balance?
Just like David Oliver and Merritt, when they faced direct competition with Liu Xiang, weren't they also prone to making mistakes in the direct rhythm confrontation?
Again.

Liu Xiang is still too much.

Moreover, as Liu Xiang said, Sun Haiping was also well aware that this was not the time to be weak.

We must stabilize the situation.

If the situation cannot be stabilized, it will lead to certain death.

That's absolutely gone.

The most difficult thing is that he still can't finish this column with a draw.

Because this is the last hurdle.

His disadvantage in running flat was even greater than Liu Xiang's.

This is also a disadvantage for Asian athletes in the short hurdles event.

After all, if you had this advantage in running, you would have gone straight into sprinting long ago.

In fact, among some of the strongest athletes in Europe and America, even those who are hurdlers or short-distance runners, some possess terrifying abilities.

It took a little over ten seconds to run.

Even players who broke ten.

None of them are absent.

In this situation, you need to compete with them for a tie.

That's really asking too much of people.

So Xie Wenjun actually still had a chance.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he's currently in second place.

But in reality, there is almost no difference between the second, third, and fourth places.

In that situation, if after landing and passing the 10th hurdle, they are still neck and neck...

That's practically a death sentence for him.

There's no chance anymore.

This is something our viewers don't understand.

How could someone in the know not understand?
This is also the main reason why Sun Haiping is so nervous that he is clenching his fists.

Merritt, Sherwin, and Pachment originally thought that no matter what, the three of them would definitely get a medal.

It's just a gold medal; a silver medal is a bronze medal.

But now, Shubenkov.

Suddenly, it surged to the top spot.

That means there's one less medal among the three.

If one piece is missing...

It was destined that one person would not receive a medal.

That is absolutely unacceptable.

Therefore, here, all three of them began to give their all.

I dared not hesitate any longer.

The situation is provoking.

It also fiercely ignited their nerves.

Patchment's performance in the tenth column pushed the "high-frequency agility" technique to its ultimate decisiveness.

He did not lose his composure because of Shubenkov's counterattack, nor did he blindly change his rhythm because of Xie Wenjun's lead. Instead, he deepened the core of his technique from "extreme connection" to "decisive connection" - that is, while maintaining a high frequency of steps, he compressed the connection time of the four stages of hurdle approach, take-off, hurdle clearance and landing to the shortest possible time, "trading time for distance" and launching a final sprint against the leader.

The "dynamic impact" segment of the rhythm before the hurdle.

Pachment's rhythmic adjustments are "flexible and full of hidden impact."

Unlike Shubenkov who maintained a fixed stride frequency or Merritt who maintained a steady rhythm, he made a combination of "slight increase in frequency + slight adjustment in stride" in the two steps before the hurdle - by shortening the landing time, he increased the stride frequency in a short time, while slightly reducing the stride length, and quickly approached the starting point with "high-frequency small steps".

The principle behind this adjustment is to utilize the rapid switching ability of neuromuscular muscles to allow the body to "upgrade the rhythm" at high speed, thus avoiding coordination problems caused by increased stride length.

Meanwhile, the smaller stride adjustment allows for more precise positioning of the starting point, reducing starting deviations caused by speed fluctuations. Unlike Xie Wenjun's "strategic prediction," Patchment's adjustment leans more towards "dynamic impact."

His body is like a "spring".

Quickly adjust your own rhythm according to the changes in the speed in front of you.

A sense of "speed pressure" is created by using high-frequency steps.

They were trying to disrupt Xie Wenjun's technical rhythm.

The "rapid release" phase of taking off and generating power.

At the start, Pachment's power was "rapidly released and full of explosive force."

His hips didn't open very wide, but his knees bent and extended extremely quickly. The elastic contraction of his calf muscles was like a "spring bursting," propelling his body rapidly off the ground.

Patchment's stride emphasizes "rapid force transfer and peak output"—the force is transferred from the thigh muscles to the calf muscles, and then to the toes, without any delay, converting the ground reaction force into an upward and forward resultant force in the shortest possible time.

This method of exertion suits his physique and muscle type, enabling him to generate high power output in a short period of time while avoiding excessive muscle load, allowing him to maintain strong explosive power even in the fatigue stage of the tenth hurdle.

His stride was executed without hesitation, as if he were "instantly igniting" all his energy, attempting to close the distance with Xie Wenjun through the explosive force of his stride.

The "time compression" process between hurdling and landing.

When clearing hurdles, Patchment's "fast hurdle clearing" characteristic reaches a decisive level. His take-off height is lower than that of the ninth hurdle, his airtime is shorter, and his body presents a "compact streamline" shape in the air—the torso leans forward at a slightly larger angle, the core muscles are tightened, and the arms swing with small amplitude and high frequency, which both balances the body and assists in propulsion.

His hurdling motion is like "brushing past the hurdle," with the distance between his toes and the hurdle kept to a minimum safe range. The principle behind this "extreme closeness" technique is to minimize vertical displacement while preserving horizontal speed.

Unlike Merritt's "elegant hurdle clearing," Patchment's hurdle clearing is more "aggressive"—his legs alternate extremely quickly, with his front leg pressing down rapidly after clearing the hurdle and his back leg swinging forward quickly after clearing the hurdle. The entire hurdle clearing motion is without any hesitation, as if he is "tearing the air."

The advantage of this quick hurdle clearing technique is that it minimizes speed loss during the hurdle clearing process, allowing the user to immediately accelerate after clearing the hurdle and create a "hurdle clearing and sprinting" momentum.

After landing, Patchment's transition was "seamless and accelerated." He landed lightly on the balls of his feet, with almost no time to cushion the impact, and immediately began his next push-off. This "landing and pushing-off" transition minimized the speed loss after clearing the hurdle.

Unlike Xie Wenjun's "decisive connection" and Merritt's "rhythmic continuity", Pachment's connection emphasizes "time compression and speed superposition".

The aim is to shorten the support time after landing, allowing the body to quickly transition from the "support phase" to the "propulsion phase," thereby achieving a "continuous increase in speed" during hurdle running.

After the tenth hurdle, Patchment's speed improved most significantly, narrowing the gap with Xie Wenjun to "less than half a body length", forming a "close pursuit" sprinting posture.

His technique demonstrates the core advantage of "high-frequency agility" at its extreme stage: not "the explosion of power," but "the control of time."

By compressing the time of each step, the maximum speed increase can be achieved in the shortest distance.

In addition, by reducing the space for hurdles, the running speed can be further increased after landing.

Merritt's performance in the tenth column was the ultimate release of the "dynamic relaxation" rhythm philosophy.

He... did not change his pace because of Shubenkov's counterattack, nor did he blindly accelerate because of Xie Wenjun's lead. Instead, he deepened the core technology from "efficiency convergence" to "efficiency peak".

That is, while maintaining a stable rhythm, all redundant movements are completely eliminated, and energy is precisely injected into the key nodes of "propulsion and hurdle clearing".

In the most effortless and efficient way, launch a final sprint to catch up with the leaders.

The "instinctive victory" of the rhythm before the hurdle.

Merritt's adjustments were "subtle yet subtly effective."

His stride frequency and stride length remained consistent with those in the ninth column, without any significant rhythmic fluctuations, but were controlled through subtle adjustments in the angle of his torso and the depth of his breathing.

The starting point should be precisely at your optimal distance.

Merritt's final adjustments were more like a "body's instincts prevailing"—his core muscles maintained moderate tension, supporting his balance without generating excessive energy expenditure.

Breathing rhythm is perfectly synchronized with stride frequency. Each deep breath provides ample oxygen to the muscles, and each exhale helps the body relax, preventing stiffness caused by fatigue.

The principle behind this adjustment is to utilize the rhythmic advantage of "dynamic relaxation" to allow the body to maintain "stability in relaxation" at high speeds, thereby achieving precise positioning of the starting and ending points without increasing the load, and preparing for the output of "efficiency peak".

The "smooth peak" of power during takeoff: Merritt's power during takeoff is "just right and extremely efficient".

His hip, knee, and ankle joints extended sequentially, and the force he exerted did not increase as he tried to catch up. Instead, he maintained the principle of "just enough"—the hips opened fully but not exaggeratedly, the knees extended to their full extent but not stiffly, and the ankles extended powerfully but not deliberately. This principle of "moderate force exertion" is to reduce energy waste and ensure that every bit of force is precisely used for propulsion and stride.

The last column.

Merritt's stride emphasizes "smoothness and peak power"—power is transferred from the hip to the knee and then to the ankle without any delay or blockage, forming a smooth power channel. At the same time, at the moment of stride takeoff, the elastic potential energy and muscle power of the whole body are integrated to form a brief peak of efficiency.

This combination of fluidity and peak performance not only reduces energy loss but also keeps the stride stable during the fatigue phase, avoiding rhythm disruption caused by excessive force.

The "elegant transition" between the hurdle and the ground.

As he cleared the hurdles, Merritt's body displayed an "elegant, decisive streamline." His hips opened fully, and his legs moved at a steady pace, without speeding up their swing as he closed in on the leader. His upper body was relaxed and stable, his shoulders did not shrug, and his arms swung back and forth in a smooth arc, as if "paddling" in the air—this arm swing not only balanced his body but also reduced the load on his legs by using the inertia of his arms to assist in propulsion.

Unlike Patchment's "low takeoff and fast hurdle clear," Merritt's hurdle clearing height is slightly higher, but he controls the takeoff time within a reasonable range through his streamlined body posture and full hip opening, avoiding speed loss due to excessive height. His hurdle clearing motion is not at all rushed.

But behind this composure lies the ultimate pursuit of technical efficiency—every action is completed without wasting energy, and every hurdle is cleared without losing speed, maximizing the efficiency advantage of "dynamic relaxation".

Upon landing, Merritt's transition was "seamless, natural, and explosive." He landed lightly on the balls of his feet, cushioned the impact with a slight bend in his knees, and then quickly pushed off, instantly restoring his stride frequency to its original rhythm without any fluctuations due to clearing the hurdle.

Of course, if you compare it to London in 2012, there are still obvious changes.

The most important thing is the change in the takeoff-support ratio.

There was no other way; changes in his physical condition forced him to make changes.

Without change, there would be no way we are where we are today.

The tenth column.

Merritt's landing transitions emphasize "continuity of rhythm and naturalness of acceleration"—landing, pushing off, and swinging forward are all done in one smooth motion without any pauses or adjustments. This continuity allowed him to maintain his speed after the tenth hurdle, not only without any decrease but also with a slight increase through "efficiency peak" output. Although the gap between him and Xie Wenjun did not narrow, it was not widened further either.

His skills proved it.

At the extreme stage, "composure and efficiency" can become the most powerful weapon for catching up. Even when facing the technological suppression of the leader, it can maintain the momentum of catching up by relying on efficient energy output.

A world record holder who, after a decline in recent years, has been able to quickly find a new technical niche.

Adjust your physical condition.

Adapt to changes in your own technology.

That's all the ability I have.

There's absolutely nothing to say about it.

Finally, we'll talk about Chinese athlete Xie Wenjun.

His success is actually due to his solid abilities.

It's already quite an achievement that we've managed to hold on until now.

It's already quite an achievement.

Some players have already exceeded expectations after being inspired at home.

However, there are limits to how well one can perform exceptionally.

He already sensed that his limits were about to be reached.

So before that.

If the last column isn't done well.

Without overthinking, given my current physical condition, I'll compete with them in the final 10-meter sprint.

They will absolutely lose miserably.

and so.

For this medal.

He needs to make some changes.

Try doing things that you don't usually have a high success rate in training.

However, it offers a chance to take a gamble.

In fact, high-level athletes often employ this method.

It's mainly about watching.

Will you be able to perform well on the spot?
If you can't perform to your potential, then you're being overly ambitious and acting on your own initiative.

They simply don't listen to orders and like to be stubborn and self-willed.

But if you perform well...

That is to have foresight and to act decisively and skillfully.

That is to be adaptable and act according to circumstances.

Therefore, the benefits and risks involved are equal.

For other competitions, there's really no need to do this.

But this time...

Xie Wenjun knew that she would still have the opportunity to run in the Bird's Nest competition in the future.
It no longer exists.

So this is important for him throughout his entire career.

This is the last time I will perform at the Bird's Nest stadium in front of 100,000 spectators.

If that's the case, what's there to be conflicted about?
Go straight to the intensity!
Xie Wenjun's task in the tenth column was to solidify her leading position through technical skill under the pressure of Shubenkov's comeback.

His technical choices continued and elevated the "toe hurdles" system originating from Liu Xiang, deepening the core technology from "boundary control" to "decisive precision".

Even under the dual test of extreme fatigue and psychological pressure, every movement must be controlled within the precise range required for victory.

The goal is to minimize energy consumption.

To gain the largest possible lead.

It sounds simple, but how do you do it?

His idea was—

The "strategic prediction" of the rhythm before the column.

After landing at the ninth hurdle, Shubenkov's counterattack instantly changed the course, but at this moment, it's crucial not to let the opponent's speed disrupt your rhythm.

To maintain a stable stride in the last two steps before the hurdle, one should not increase stride length in an attempt to widen the gap, nor decrease stride length as the opponent approaches.

This stability is not a passive defense.

Rather, it reflects strategic confidence in the "toe hurdles" technique.

Xie Wenjun attempts to precisely lock the starting point at the upper limit of her "personal optimal distance" through the precise proprioception of her toes—a position that ensures both effortless and efficient starting and optimal landing position after clearing the hurdle.

It is precisely on the optimal acceleration line towards the finish line. The principle behind this adjustment is to utilize the precise positioning advantage of "hurdling with the toes" to complete "strategic prediction" while in high-speed inertia.

To avoid deviations in the starting point due to psychological fluctuations, ensure that the technical movements at the moment of takeoff are not interfered with in any way.

The "power chain peak" stage of starting and exerting force.

At the moment of takeoff, one must fully demonstrate the "power chain peak" characteristics of "hurdling on the toes".

In other words, the front leg uses the toes as the core point of force, and the calf muscles perform "extreme pulse contraction" - this contraction is not a continuous exertion, but a release of the elastic potential energy accumulated throughout the body within the critical 0.1 seconds of the hip movement, followed by rapid relaxation to reduce ineffective muscle consumption.

Keep the hips moderately open, without excessively sitting back or leaning forward due to pressure, forming a stable power channel; strictly control the knee extension angle within the range of "just enough to complete the stride without wasting energy", avoiding excessive extension that causes the body to lean backward, and ensuring the continuity of horizontal propulsion.

Compared to the ninth column, the starting stride should be more "focused"—no longer pursuing "comprehensive force exertion," but rather "the direction of force is absolutely forward," locking every bit of energy onto the key path of "forward advancement."

The technical principle behind this "controllable burst" is that when one's muscles are at their limit of fatigue, it is the only way to avoid wasting energy due to dispersed force exertion and to maximize the propulsive effect of limited energy.

Once this step is completed—

The "decisive connection" between clearing the hurdle and landing allows the body to present a "decisive, compact, and streamlined shape" when clearing the hurdle.

When the time comes, as long as you keep your torso leaning forward at a stable angle, your core muscles will be able to firmly connect your upper and lower body like a "rigid steel cable".

It is neither stiffness caused by excessive tension nor swaying caused by excessive relaxation, but a kind of "extreme dynamic rigidity" that maintains the stability of the body's central axis at high speed.

Then, assist by swinging your arms rapidly at a fixed angle.

The arm swing amplitude is slightly smaller than that of the ninth column, which reduces the energy consumption of the upper limbs. At the same time, the angular momentum of the arm swing helps the body maintain balance and avoids "left and right deviation" due to the opponent's approach.

The trajectory of his toes on the hurdle was lower than that of the ninth hurdle, almost "grazing the edge" of the hurdle.

This "extreme close-to-the-edge" hurdling method not only minimizes vertical displacement and preserves horizontal speed, but also visually creates a "technical dominance" posture.

His hurdle-clearing movements were not hurried at all, as if he were "precisely cutting" the air at high speed.

Every detail embodies the technical essence of "toe hurdling".

Victory is not achieved through brute force, but through precision.

Upon landing, the outer edge of the forefoot contacts the ground first, then quickly rolls to the entire foot, with the knees slightly bent for "maximum elastic cushioning".

The cushioning is just right to absorb the impact upon landing, without wasting time due to excessive bending.

The landing time was 0.003 seconds shorter than in the ninth column. This slight reduction was not a sign of speed decay, but rather a necessity for a "decisive connection".

By shortening the landing time, the elastic potential energy of the muscles and the impact energy of the landing can be integrated instantly and immediately transformed into the explosive force of the next push-off, forming a seamless connection of "landing-push-acceleration".

The technical principle behind this landing method is to directly convert the hurdle clearing advantage of the tenth hurdle into a flat running advantage.

Xie Wenjun knew that her final flat-run speed was not as fast as Merritt and Patchment, so she had to use the precise landing of the "toe hurdle" to immediately establish a leading position after the tenth hurdle and not give her opponents a chance to overtake her on flat-run.

But while the idea is good, what are the potential mistakes and costs involved in trying to achieve it?

If it's so useful, why didn't we use it before? Well, that's because it comes at a price.

At least for Xie Wenjun now.

The price is not small.

The cost and difficulty lie in the triple burden of "high precision, high neural control, and high metabolism":

In order to ensure precision in the take-off point, power generation timing, hurdle trajectory, and landing connection, Xie Wenjun must maintain an extremely narrow range of movement tolerance under extreme fatigue, which significantly increases neuromuscular exhaustion and the risk of injury.

To maintain this precision, the movement will exhibit quantifiable deviations and compensations in terms of timing, amplitude, stiffness, and trajectory.

This will improve the efficiency of the process.

It also significantly increases consumption and risk.

For example, a surge in neural control load:

To reduce the timing error of hip-knee-ankle force application to within tens of milliseconds when the lactate level is close to the threshold, sustained "high-intensity attention + precise proprioceptive feedback" is required. Any distraction or emotional fluctuation will amplify the error, leading to deviations in the starting point or the direction of propulsion.

For example, increased metabolic and muscle costs:
Limiting pulse contractions mean higher mechanical power output and faster ATP consumption. The gastrocnemius/soleus, quadriceps, and gluteus maximus muscles experience peak tension in a short period of time, resulting in a significant increase in muscle micro-damage and delayed onset soreness.

For example, the margin for error in actions is extremely low:
The "toe hurdle + extreme close clearance" technique reduces the margin for error to the millimeter level. Even a slight deviation in toe height or trajectory can result in grazing the hurdle or increased vertical displacement, which not only reduces speed but also induces compensatory movements such as trunk leaning back or disordered arm swing.

For example, increased impact on joints and tendons:
The sequence of landing on the outer side of the forefoot, rapid rolling, and immediate push-off subjectes the ankle, knee, and iliotibial band to high-frequency, high-amplitude stretch-contraction cycles. In the long term, this increases the risk of overuse of the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and iliotibial band.

For example, the vulnerability of rhythm locking:
To maintain a stable stride and precise starting point, Xie Wenjun must resist the temptation to be led astray by her opponent's rhythm. This kind of "active decoupling" rhythm control is physiologically energy-intensive and can easily lead to rhythm drift due to nervous fatigue in the final stage.

Not to mention the cumulative effect of psychological stress:
Under the psychological burden of "being chased - having to take the lead" brought about by Shubenkov's comeback, and with the rest of the team almost catching up, anxiety will increase muscle co-activation, causing unnecessary tension in antagonistic muscles, further increasing energy consumption and reducing the smoothness of movement.

Not to mention, he hadn't mastered this technique at all. The only reason he could use it was because his physical strength had increased over the years of training.

This gave him a certain degree of advantage.

He knew he might never be able to open the 13-second timer in his lifetime.

but.

This doesn't take 13 seconds.

It's an era where you can win medals, isn't it?

That being the case.

I'm determined to give it a shot!
Some of the technical moves that could only be performed smoothly by Liu Xiang originally.

I need to take it out and use it myself.

otherwise.

They could only watch helplessly as their opponent overtook them at the Bird's Nest.

Seeing himself unable to raise the national flag in front of 100,000 spectators at the Bird's Nest.

That would be such a huge regret.

It's very likely that you'll never forget it.

He doesn't want this.

Then.

Anyway, there were no medals.

What's the difference between getting fourth place and getting last place?

There may be no difference on other competition venues.

But on this particular spot...

Yes, it exists.

Under extreme fatigue and the pressure of being counter-killed.

Xie Wenjun had to "barely complete" the precision technique in the tenth column.

The principle must be "reducing variables, strengthening lock-in, and sacrificing some power for stability".

Use actionable safety measures to reduce errors to an acceptable range.

He has already decided to do it.

The "lock-in strategy" that takes the first two steps.

Stride lock.

Use "half-step calibration"—first, deliberately shorten the first step slightly, and then use the proprioception of touching the ground with the toes to bring the stride back to the upper limit of your personal optimal position in the second step, so as to avoid being led astray by Shubenkov's rhythm.

Focus your gaze and torso on the edge of the tenth bar, one meter ahead. Lean your torso slightly forward and maintain "extreme dynamic rigidity." Tighten your core like wringing out a towel to reduce lateral shifts.

Breathing and nerve-lowering effects: Before starting to walk, take one short, quick nasal inhalation and two rapid mouth exhalations to reduce muscle co-activation caused by anxiety and prevent antagonistic muscles from competing for strength.

Then comes the "safety measure" of starting with a powerful stride.

An enhanced version of toe-pulse contraction.

Instead of pursuing the ultimate peak value, it uses two short and fast micro-pulses to ensure that the force is absolutely forward and avoids backward tilting due to excessive force.

Hip-knee-ankle timing lock.

Use the rhythmic pattern of "tighten your heels first, extend your knees later, and bounce your toes last" to force the three joints to synchronize, even if the power is slightly reduced, the timing must be maintained.

Swing arm assists in stabilization.

The forward swing should stop at cheek height, and the backward swing should not exceed the midline of the torso. Use a fixed range of arm swing to "hold" the body's rhythm and prevent it from going off track.

Next is the "fault-tolerant compression" of the cross-bar trajectory.

The closest possible minimum height:
The toe height is set to "the top edge of the hurdle + the thickness of the shoe", using the lowest safety line of "rubbing without touching" to reduce the speed loss caused by vertical displacement.

Trunk and pelvic stability:
When passing the top of the hurdle, keep your pelvis level to avoid twisting; imagine that your upper body is being pulled up from above by an invisible rope to prevent it from collapsing or leaning backward.

Alternating leg presses:
After the front legs clear the hurdle, immediately press down, and the hind legs swing forward quickly but not to the maximum extent, using the idea of ​​"getting in place early and landing early" to shorten the time in the air.

Upon landing, the outer edge of the forefoot should touch the ground first, and the rolling process to the entire foot should be controlled within 0.03 seconds, with the knees slightly bent for "maximum elastic cushioning".

However, it is permissible to go slightly deeper than usual, prioritizing the absorption of shocks before focusing on further efforts.

The "three-step" sequence of landing, pushing off, and accelerating:
Use the arm swing to drive the push-off, with a fast forward swing and a short backward swing. Even if the calf strength is insufficient, use the "dragging acceleration" of the hip to bring the body forward.

Accept a guaranteed lead of "half a body length":

The goal is not to achieve perfect acceleration, but to maintain a lead of about half a body length after landing, thus entering a stable, error-free running phase.

Sacrifices are permitted during the process.

Reducing the swing arm amplitude, lowering the peak power by 10%-15%, and slightly shortening the stride are all acceptable.

But we will never sacrifice the stability of the starting and landing points.

Prohibited mistakes include leaning back, inconsistent stride length, inconsistent toe height, and pausing after landing. If any of these occur, immediately use "secondary pulse" and "arm swing reset" to regain the rhythm.

Emergency corrective action, in case of deviation, to take—

When the starting point is too close.

Use your toes to slide forward 1-2 centimeters while simultaneously swinging your arms forward once more to "bring" your body over the hurdle and avoid hitting it.

When the hurdle is too high.

At the apex, immediately perform a "slight relaxation of the lower leg + rapid downward pressure" to pull the vertical displacement back and reduce speed loss.

When the landing is unstable.

Use "double arm swings" to swing forward twice in small amplitudes to stabilize the torso before initiating the push-off. Even if it's 0.01 seconds late, make sure you don't fall or go astray.

it is good.

He actually knew all of these things.

Now it's just a fleeting thought that flashes through my mind like lightning.

He didn't need to recall the details, because he already understood them; he just needed to string these images and memories together.

That's enough.

Column 10.

The red plastic gleamed under the light.

The railing stretched across the front like a cold, white boundary line.

Xie Wenjun's breathing was already heavy, and lactic acid was bubbling in his calves and thighs, but his eyes were fixed on only one point—the invisible mark one meter ahead of the tenth column.

He wants to use a set of moves that "guarantee no mistakes" to barely lock his lead into the final ten meters before the finish line.

Step 1 (slightly shorter).

He deliberately shortened his first step by half a foot, landing on the outside of his forefoot first, with a light tap of the arch, as if "touching" the ground. His heel didn't follow forward, his knees were slightly bent but not deeply, his torso remained slightly forward, and his core was tightened like wringing a towel to prevent his body from swaying from side to side.

Swing your arms to cheek height and stop, and don't swing them back beyond the midline of your torso. The rhythm should be like the hands of a clock: steady, short, and fast.

Step 2 (calibration).

The second step involves using proprioception on the toes to bring the stride back to the individual's optimal limit. His toes touch the ground first, then quickly roll to the entire sole. At the moment of landing, the ankle tightens like a spring, and the hips move forward smoothly. The stride is just right, "locking" the take-off point at the optimal distance in front of the hurdle.

My gaze remained fixed on the spot a meter ahead, and my breathing consisted of one short, sharp inhalation through my nose and two quick exhalations through my mouth, trying to expel the anxiety from my shoulders.

The rhythmic commands echoed in my mind.

Short, fast, and steady. Short is the first step, fast is the second step, and steady is the moment before taking the stride.

Up.

跨。

The power generated during the stride is not a single, forceful thrust, but rather two short, rapid micro-pulses. The first, within 0.05 seconds, involves the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) contracting rapidly like a rubber band, propelling the body forward.

The second pulse is followed immediately by another 0.05-second pulse to ensure that the force is directed absolutely forward, without going upward or deviating to the left or right. He deliberately gave up the ultimate peak value in exchange for clean timing.

Tighten your heels first, pre-tension the back of your calves, extend your knees, steadily exert force with your quadriceps, and finally spring your toes off, with your ankles extending rapidly at the moment of push-off.

The three joints mesh like gears, with no sequential order, only synchronization. Even if the power drops by 10%-15%, the timing error must be reduced to within tens of milliseconds.

The front swing is fast, and the back swing is short.

The arms act like two stabilizing rods, guiding the body's rhythm. Swing forward to the cheek and then back, and swing backward no longer than the midline of the torso, avoiding the upper limbs taking the initiative and disrupting the timing of the lower limbs.

Track for crossing the barrier.

"Fault-tolerant compression".

He set the toe height as the minimum safety line of "the top edge of the hurdle + the thickness of the shoe".

After taking off, my toes almost brushed against the edge of the railing, so close that I could almost hear the soft rustling of fabric against wood.

This "grazing without touching" trajectory minimizes vertical displacement and retains velocity.

Trunk and pelvis.

When passing the top of the hurdle, the pelvis remains level, without twisting or collapsing. The upper body feels as if it is being pulled up from above by an invisible rope, the shoulder blades are tightened, the ribs do not turn outward, and the core's "extreme dynamic rigidity" allows the body to move like an arrow at high speed, without swaying or deviating.

Alternately press down on your legs quickly.

After the front legs clear the hurdle, immediately press down, without dragging or swaying. The hind legs swing forward quickly, but not to the maximum extent; the idea is to "arrive early and land early" to shorten the time in the air.

What he needs is time, not perfect posture.

past.

Feel……

good!!!

up in the air.

He felt a surge of joy.

But then things changed.

Xie Wenjun's stride was clean and crisp, her toes brushing against the railing as her torso seemed to be straightened by an invisible rope, her posture almost perfect.

But at the very moment of landing—

The outside of the forefoot just touches the ground.

The arch of the foot hadn't been compressed yet.

My body suddenly felt heavy.

My calves felt like all the strength had been drained from them.

The ankle did not bounce up.

Instead, it curves slightly inward.

My knees involuntarily bent an extra half inch.

Oops!

Not only him, but also Sun Haiping, who had been watching his every move closely, and others, including Liu Xiang…

Everyone felt a tightness in their chest.

If something goes wrong here, then this shot will be wasted.

Falling down is always possible.

Has all our previous efforts been in vain?

No.

can not be like this.

This shot of mine.

You must run well.

We can't let everyone down.

To disappoint oneself.

We can't let Brother Xiang in the stands down either.

Time seemed to slow down.

Xie Wenjun could feel that the reaction force from the ground did not travel up her calves.

Instead, it's distributed in the cushioning of the ankles and knees.

The speed was "eaten up" at the moment of landing.

The footsteps behind me approached like a tidal wave.

He didn't panic, nor did he have time to panic. In the very first instant of losing his balance, he activated—"Emergency Reset Upon Landing".

Double arm swing to stabilize.

Instead of swinging his arms haphazardly, he immediately made two small forward swings.

The amplitude should not exceed the cheeks, and the speed should be fast and short. The first forward swing pulls the upper body back from the edge of leaning backward, and the second forward swing acts like a lever, pulling the pelvis back to horizontal.

The shoulder blades tightened instantly, the core felt like it was being wrung out like a towel, and the transverse abdominis and erector spinae muscles worked together to forcefully stop the body from swaying from side to side.

My gaze quickly shifted from the ground back to three meters in front of me, no longer focusing on my feet, no longer letting the feeling of imbalance lead me astray.

No matter how sore his calves were, his nerves forcefully issued the command—

The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles perform a short, fast pulse.

With a sudden snap of the arch of the foot, the ankle quickly returns to its normal position from an inward-turned state, and the rolling motion from the outer side of the forefoot to the entire sole is compressed to the extreme. This time, the force exertion is not aimed at power output, but only at "pushing the body up".

He could feel the muscle fibers trembling under extreme conditions, indicating a possible muscle strain.

But the impulse effect still worked.

My body was...slightly bounced up.

This avoids any pause after landing.

That's fine then.

As for whether or not I'll strain my muscles later!

Let's finish this run first!

If his calves aren't strong enough, he compensates with his hips.

Continue to maintain the rhythm of "fast forward swing and short backward swing" in arm swing, with the forward swing of the arm propelling the hip forward, as if "pulling" the body forward with the hand.

The stride wasn't deliberately increased, but kept steady, with each step just the right amount to propel the body forward.

He abandoned the pursuit of perfect momentum and only pursued "uninterrupted continuity".

Even if it's a little slower, we must maintain our lead of half a body length.

Because his ankle was turned inward, his foot landed slightly to the left. He immediately used his toes to slide forward 1 centimeter, while his right shoulder moved slightly forward to pull his body's center of gravity back to the center line of the track.

The arm swing was reset twice, and each time it felt like putting a "rhythm lock" on the body.

To prevent actions from becoming chaotic.

Relax your jaw, gently press the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, and consciously prevent facial tension from spreading throughout your body to avoid antagonistic muscles competing for strength.

His first push-off after the adjustment wasn't as powerful, and his speed hadn't fully recovered, but he successfully stopped the stall.

The initial imbalance upon landing was forcefully pulled back onto the right track, and the body returned to a stable, flat running rhythm.

He no longer pursues a lead of "more than half a body length", but only "avoids mistakes".

Continue to control the arm swing amplitude, keep the stride stable, and avoid sudden increases or decreases in force.

I thought that after such a mistake, even if I managed to regain my footing, I might not be able to win again.

But at this moment, God is fair to everyone.

Competitive sports are all about winning by the smallest margin.

It's not just about fighting for yourself.

They are also competing with others.

The air before the tenth column was like a tightly wound string.

All sounds were compressed into heavy breathing and the soft rustling of cleats.

Xie Wenjun's movements were clean and precise, her toes brushing against the railing, her torso seemingly straightened by an invisible thread.

The moment of landing, the outside of the forefoot slipped, the arch of the foot failed to lock, the knee bent half an inch too much, and the speed was slightly "bitten" off by the ground.

He almost instinctively initiated an emergency reset.

The double arm swings act like two short poles, pulling the upper body back to the center line. The core twists again, and the gaze rises from the feet to three meters in front.

The calf made a brief, secondary pulse, the arch of the foot snapped shut, and the ankle returned to its normal position.

The hips, propelled forward by the arm swing, use a "dragging acceleration" to propel the body forward. The landing step isn't graceful, but it maintains the rhythm, without pauses or veering off course.

Almost at the same second, Merritt's hurdle clearance was still smooth and effortless, but when he landed, his right heel brushed against the rubber first, and the rhythm of his forefoot rolling was interrupted by the tension in the front of his thigh.

He was used to using the elasticity of his arches to generate speed, but at this moment, because his quadriceps were "locked" at their limit, his knees cushioned the impact slightly, and his first push-off was half a beat slower.

His rhythm seemed to be slightly tripped, and a tiny "break" appeared in his speed line.

in the end……

His body punished him.

It's impossible to achieve that perfection.

Even before, doing this was as common as eating and drinking.

But now this food is hard to swallow.

Even drinking water in large quantities is difficult.

Patchment's hurdle clearances remained low and fast, with his toes brushing the hurdle so close it looked like sparks were about to fly.

However, upon landing, in an attempt to "land early and accelerate early," he pressed down too hard with the ball of his foot, and the tension in his calf muscles was not fully released, resulting in a slight bounce in his ankle joint!

My body swayed half an inch to the side!
He tried to save the situation with a high-frequency arm swing, but due to the tension in his nerves, the arm swing amplitude fluctuated, the rhythm was disrupted, and the propulsion could not be "layered" as before.

The three of them almost simultaneously revealed their weaknesses in the tenth column!
Almost simultaneously, they struggled to regain their rhythm after landing!
But Xie Wenjun's self-rescue was the cleanest.

He doesn't chase the peak, he only seeks uninterrupted transitions. When the three of them took their first steps after the tenth hurdle, their positions on the red track had already subtly diverged.

Xie Wenjun's shoulder line was about half a body length ahead of Merritt and Patchment, like a taut thread firmly attached to his feet.

When the flat running phase arrives, he locks his arm swing at a fixed range, keeps his stride stable, and does not suddenly increase or decrease his force.

The two people behind him were still closing in, their footsteps like a tide, but they were always half a body length away.

Xie Wenjun's breathing remained heavy, and his calves trembled slightly, but his eyes held only the unwavering determination to "finish the job."
—The mistake in the tenth column was not fatal; on the contrary, the moment when all three made mistakes at the same time, his stability turned into an advantage.

"They all made mistakes! The opportunity has arrived!!!"

Liu Xiang was the first to notice something amiss.

Shout it out loud.

Although Yang Jian didn't immediately realize it, since Liu Xiang had said so, he immediately followed up with:
"Stay calm! This is your chance!!!"

Those who saw Liu Xiang and others at the scene said the same thing.

Whether he understands or not doesn't matter.

Immediately, a deafening roar of cheers was set off.

The loud cheers undoubtedly stirred Xie Wenjun's nerves.

Especially since he had just completed an extremely risky and difficult technical maneuver.

And they still maintained their lead.

This made him feel even more strongly that...

Everyone is helping me.

So what are you waiting for?

Take a chance.

Go all out.

Who cares if my feet hurt right now?

Right now, in this very moment.

Just pretend it never happened.

I can't feel it anymore.

A surge of adrenaline flooded his body like a tidal wave.

at this time.

His only focus was on moving forward.

Charge forward with all your might.

The last ten meters!
Like a corridor stretched out by time!
Xie Wenjun's slip when she landed at the tenth hurdle ultimately left a mark.

He used his double arm swings to pull his torso back to the midline, his calves used a second pulse to hold his ankles in place, and his hips thrust forward to "drag" his body forward—the movements were all correct, but they were no longer seamless.

During the flat running phase, he kept his arm swing at a fixed range, dared not take his stride too big or too small, and his breathing was like a suppressed fire, each breath burning his chest.

He knew that his flat running wasn't his strong suit, so he could only compensate with consistency.

However, when faced with extreme speeds, it's like a stone being constantly eroded by water, its edges gradually worn away.

The two people behind him were like two gusts of wind emerging from the shadows.

Merritt made the first move.

His rhythm was momentarily disrupted by the tension in the front of his thighs after clearing the hurdle, but he treated that "breakpoint" as a restart button—after the knees cushioned the impact, he didn't force his power but instead used the flexibility of his hips to smooth out his stride, swinging his arms like two light arcs to bring his body flatter and faster.

His speed wasn't explosive, it was "smooth," like gently straightening a stuck gear and then meshing it all the way through.

Each step was more comfortable than the last, the shoulder line gradually moving forward, like the tide slowly overflowing the embankment.

Patchment, on the other hand, displayed a different kind of energy. His hurdle clearance was low and fast, and he wobbled half an inch laterally upon landing, but he forcefully pulled it back using a high-frequency arm swing.

He no longer pursues the extreme connection of "early landing and early acceleration", but stabilizes the frequency at the highest point he can control - fast arm swing, fast forward delivery, fast downward pressure, the three steps are combined into one force, like kneading scattered sparks into a ball of fire.

His speed was shaky, but the shaking was powerful; each shaking propelled him forward, his body bouncing forward like a spring.

At seven meters, Xie Wenjun's shoulder line was still half a body length ahead. His arm swing was still steady, and his stride was still accurate, but his breathing began to become erratic—not because he wanted to, but because lactic acid surged up like a tide, his calves were trembling slightly, and each push-off was heavier than the last.

He could feel the shadow approaching behind him, first the sound of Merritt's breathing over his shoulder.

Then came the sound of Patchment's cleats striking his heels like drumbeats.

Five meters away, his shadow caught up with him. Merritt's shoulder line was parallel to his, and Patchment's chest pressed against him. The three shadows overlapped and separated on the plastic, like three intertwined lines, none of them willing to let go.

Xie Wenjun gritted his teeth, trying to swing his arm faster, but his arm felt like it was filled with lead, and each forward swing was met with resistance. His stability at this moment turned into "not daring to change".

I dared not increase the amplitude or the frequency, and could only watch helplessly as the two people behind me moved forward little by little.

At a distance of three meters, the wind changed direction.

Merritt's hips shot forward half an inch first, and Patchment's arm swing added a quick cut. The two of them, like two arrows thrusting in from the side, forcefully gained the lead.

Xie Wenjun's breathing became erratic. He tried to exert force again, but the second pulse in his calf turned into a tremor. His arch failed to lock, and he "slipped" half an inch when he landed—not a mistake, but a lack of strength.

His shoulder line was pressed behind by the two players, as if he was being slowly pushed away from the center line of the track.

It wasn't that he didn't want to speed up anymore, but that under extreme conditions, if he forced himself to speed up and forcibly broke the barely maintained balance, the only consequence would be that he would fall down in front of the finish line.

Anyone who has ever participated in a competition understands what this means.

Once you reach your limit, especially after you've broken through it, if you want to go again, you can only do so by breaking the rules of physiology.

Your body will teach you how to be a person.

At two meters, Patchment's chest was already a fifth of his body length above him, with Merritt close behind.

The two of them moved like two beams of light shooting forward, while Xie Wenjun's line was like a kite being pulled back, still flying forward.

But it can't fly fast anymore.

His eyes remained fierce, his teeth clenched so tightly they were grinding, but his body could no longer keep up with his will—

The difference in flat running ability was starkly exposed at this moment.

He could keep a clean hurdle in the tenth hurdle, but he couldn't maintain his speed in the last ten meters.

Is there no hope left?
No.

Also.

Ah Jun.

Press the line!

Let's compete with them on the line!
Suddenly remembering something, Sun Haiping couldn't help but shout it out from the sidelines.

Who cares if he can hear me or not?

That's what he wanted to shout.

This is his deepest thought.

Not vomiting, not happy.

In the last meter, the red plastic resembled a bowstring stretched to its limit.

The lights converged into a blinding white beam before the finish line.

Xie Wenjun's shoulder line is a third of a body length behind.

Lactic acid forms hard lumps in the calves.

Each push felt like stepping on red-hot iron.

His breathing became erratic, but suddenly the morning light of the Ersha Island training base flashed before his eyes—Coach Sun Haiping's roar exploded in his ears:

"What's the strongest thing about Ersha Island? It's finishing at the finish line! It's turning that last centimeter into victory by finishing at the finish line!"

These words struck him like an electric current. He suddenly remembered countless mornings of shuttle runs, the "lean forward - hip thrust - fingertip press on the line" drills he practiced repeatedly by the hurdles, and Sun Haiping shouting behind him, "The difference isn't that big, it's all about who can 'throw' their body over the line!"

His eyes changed instantly.

It's no longer the stubbornness of gritting your teeth and enduring.

Rather, it was the resolute act of igniting—

His flat running ability is not as good as others.

But pressing the line is an instinct ingrained in his bones.

He didn't increase his pace or force his stride; instead, he suddenly leaned his torso forward to the extreme.

The core is like a tightly wound spring, the hips thrust forward sharply, the shoulders lower, and the arms are no longer stable swinging rods, but like two spears thrusting forward, locking hard at the chest, and propelling the body forward.

The toes are raised, and only a small part of the forefoot touches the ground.

Like gliding forward on plastic, all the power is concentrated on "shifting the body's center of gravity forward".

It wasn't that they ran past the line, it was that they "took over" the line.

At the very second he started pressing the line, Patchment also sensed the threat behind him.

He suddenly added a quick cut to his arm swing, thrusting his chest forward, trying to pull himself out another half inch.

Merritt maintained his "smooth" approach, his hips moving forward steadily without changing his stride, but in the last step he slightly peeked out with his head, like a bird about to cross the finish line, pursuing that ultimate "earlier".

Shubenkov's figure was at the forefront, his rhythm remained flawless, his stride frequency and stride length meshed like gears, his shoulder line moved forward steadily, undisrupted by the commotion behind him.

His finishing touch is the epitome of "stability." He doesn't pursue exaggerated forward leaning; he simply makes each step as clean as possible, like a line without any breaks, cutting straight towards the finish line.

At fifty centimeters, Xie Wenjun had reached his limit of leaning forward; the tip of his nose was almost touching the plastic, and all he could see was the white of the finish line.

He could feel Patchment's shoulder right next to his left shoulder, Merritt's breathing close to his ear, and the three shadows overlapped on the plastic, none of them willing to give way to the other.

His calves were trembling, his arches were almost giving way, but his nerves were locked tight—"Press!"

At twenty centimeters, even the wind seemed to stop. Shubenkov's chest crossed the line first, a clean and decisive step without any suspense. His red bib number swayed under the light, like a flag announcing victory.

Immediately afterward, Patchment pressed his chest down as well; his quick arm swing finally paid off, making him a fraction faster than Xie Wenjun and Merritt.

Just as Patchment crossed the line, Xie Wenjun and Merritt simultaneously "throw" themselves out.

Xie Wenjun thrust her arm forward with all her might, lowering her shoulders even further, her center of gravity almost touching the ground.

Merritt, on the other hand, maintained his streamlined form, his head protruding and his hips thrusting forward, like a light arc across the finish line.

Their shadows overlapped before the finish line, and then they crossed it together.

There is no order of precedence, no difference between them; they are completely parallel.

But in reality, because Merritt was further ahead, the fact that the last two players were side-by-side on the line meant...

The pressing line step.

Xie Wenjun won.

"Crashing the line!!!! ...

"The first place goes to Russian athlete Shubenkov! He broke the 13-second barrier on this start! His 12.98 seconds not only set a personal best but also secured Russia's first-ever gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles!!!"

"The second place went to Jamaican athlete Patchment, whose time was 13.03 seconds. In the end, he relied on Jamaicans' excellent flat running ability to make a comeback and overtake them. Jamaicans' sprinting genes are indeed excellent!"

"Third place..."

Yang Jian couldn't help but wait a while.

If you don't see familiar English spelling in this place.

That means Xie Wenjun, who fought hard throughout the entire match.

In the end, they lost the chance to stand on the podium at the Bird's Nest.

Although it's competitive sports, there's nothing that can be done about it.

Results are everything.

But the whole process was so wonderful.

It was a real shame that they didn't win a medal in front of the Bird's Nest.

that's too regretful.

Before long, the third place emerged.

The first name that came out was Merritt.

You could hear the audience members at the scene sighing in despair.

"Merritt, it's Merritt the third..."

Just as Yang Jian lowered his voice slightly, Liu Xiang, who was standing next to him, suddenly spoke up, shouting:

"Tie for third place, it's a tie for third place!"

"Xie Wenjun is also 13.04!!!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian...

My excitement immediately returned.

He said loudly.

"Thousandths place, look at the thousandths place!"

"This result is incredibly impressive for Xie Wenjun, especially considering this is a flat area. To achieve such a time is simply unbelievable; it's a full 0.2 seconds faster than his time in Moscow!!!"

"Even if he doesn't win this medal, I hope everyone will applaud his efforts!"

Yang Jian laid the groundwork like this: what if he didn't win a medal?

But fortunately.

The results will be announced soon.

Merritt 13.037 per thousand.

Xie Wenjun 13.037!!!

"Exactly the same!!!"

"Xie Wenjun's thousandths place is exactly the same as Merritt's, which means this is a bronze medal! They're tied for bronze!!!"

"He tied here with Liu Xiang's former rival, and he also tied with the world record holder—this is a huge victory!!!"

"The regret of missing out on two major competitions in the 110-meter hurdles at the Bird's Nest has finally been filled here!!!"

"Finally, the national flag will be raised at the Bird's Nest for the men's 110-meter hurdles!!!"

"A 8-year wait!"

"Xie Wenjun did it!!!"

"At this very moment, Liu Xiang is sitting right next to me, he is now..."

Yang Jian turned his head.

Seeing Liu Xiang so moved that he almost burst into tears.

Although in the original timeline, he couldn't help but shed tears because of Su Shen and the relay team's advance.

But when it comes to their main focus.

It's an emotion that's even harder to suppress.

"Liu Xiang is speechless at this moment! I think only someone who is deeply in love with this project would be like this!"

"Let's congratulate Xie Wenjun!"

"He has carried on Liu Xiang's legacy!"

"He left his medal in the men's 110-meter hurdles at the Bird's Nest!"

done.

I did it.

Xie Wenjun felt a sharp pain in the soles of her feet at that moment.

But at this moment, he couldn't care less about all that.

Open your upper arms.

This is his moment.

Enjoy the full experience of listening to the 100,000 audience members.

Shout out his surname.

Shout his name.

P.S.: After this chapter was completed, the tallest 100-meter runner in China and Asia announced his retirement at yesterday's National Games.

Su Shen has achieved so much.

I met him in 2015.

Before the 2015 World Championships, I genuinely believed that there was little hope for the 100-meter dash in China. Even though Zhang Peimeng broke the 10-second barrier, his subsequent poor performance led me to believe that there might be a genetic blockade that prevented him from breaking the 10-second barrier.

However, as it turns out...

This is completely untrue.

He not only broke down the barriers in everyone's hearts, but also in his own.

This also broke through the barrier in Xiao Zi's heart.

With his ever-improving scores, he reached his limit in Tokyo.

This book was originally written for him.

With his passing, this book has also come to its final chapter.

Hopefully, after Suarez finishes his professional career, he can continue to contribute to track and field in other roles.

have nothing to say.

It's just four words—

You are a legend.