The Su God of the Reopening of the Sports Arena

Chapter 2527 Successfully advanced! The 200-meter sprint battle is about to begin.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Usain Bolt was already a superstar in the world of sports, and his world records set at the Beijing Olympics and the Berlin World Championships remain unbroken. However, in the men's 200-meter final, a phenomenal Blake delivered the most devastating blow of his career—this young sprinter, nicknamed "The Beast," relentlessly sprinted past Bolt in the final stretch, ultimately securing a comeback victory and relegating Bolt to silver. This duel is widely considered the most intense 200-meter race in history. Even more astonishingly, at the Jamaican National Championships that same year, Blake defeated Bolt twice in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. His 19.80-19.83-second victory in the 200-meter race became the only time Bolt lost in that event during his peak years. At that moment, the world cried out: "Is Bolt's era over?"

"Blake's rise is no accident. This exceptionally talented athlete boasts a personal best of 19.20 seconds, second only to Bolt, firmly holding the title of the second fastest man in history in the 200 meters. His starting reaction is extremely fast, his acceleration during the middle of the race is rapid, and his explosive power in the final sprint is terrifying. After defeating Bolt, Blake stated frankly: 'I always believed I could do it. I trained with Bolt, I knew his weaknesses, and I came here to beat him.' These words foreshadowed an even more intense rivalry between the two."

"However, what makes Bolt a legend is his powerful desire for revenge and his ability to adapt. At the 2013 Moscow World Championships, fate provided Bolt with the perfect stage for revenge. At that time, Moscow was hit by torrential rain, and the slippery track was a huge test for all the athletes. In the men's 200 final, Bolt and Blake met again. This time, Bolt did not repeat his past mistakes. He put away his usual casualness and went all out from the start. With more stable technique and stronger control in the later stages, he crossed the finish line first in the rainy night and successfully avenged his defeat. The moment he crossed the finish line, Bolt roared to the sky, rain and sweat mingling on his face, his eyes filled with the domineering aura of a king's return."

"The victory in Moscow did not end their rivalry; instead, it intensified their competition. Blake remained deeply troubled by his disappointment at the Moscow World Championships, firmly believing he could defeat Bolt. Bolt, on the other hand, knew that his junior was the strongest opponent of his career, and only by maintaining peak performance could he retain the title of 'World's Fastest Man.' In Blake's words, 'We could have faced off many more times. If it weren't for the coach's arrangements, we would have met in every major competition.' This unfulfilled desire made their reunion at the 2015 BJ World Championships even more anticipated—both men stepped onto the Bird's Nest track with the determination to 'defeat the other.'"

"In the pre-race training area, the encounter between the two was filled with tension. While Bolt was warming up and stretching, Blake deliberately chose the adjacent track, his every acceleration carrying a powerful impact, as if demonstrating against Bolt. Bolt, on the other hand, appeared relatively calm. He listened to his coach Mills' instructions while occasionally glancing at Blake out of the corner of his eye, a faint smile playing on his lips—a sign of confidence and respect for his opponent. The two didn't exchange many words, but the competitive atmosphere in the air made the other athletes around them feel an invisible pressure."

"And now is the time for the two to face off."

"Coincidentally, the two of them were placed in the same group in the semifinals."

"Would they really fight each other here over a golden path?!"

"We eagerly await the strongest collision in human history over the 200-meter dash!"

"These two will surely raise the bar for humankind's 200-meter height to a new level!"

"Of course, our player Zhou Bing is also in there. If he wants to break through, he can only try to get a small Q. But fortunately, it is the third group, so we can already see where the small Q's qualification line is."

"The current Q is Ogunode, who got 20.05 seconds, so if you want to advance, you must surpass that time. Of course, if you can't surpass it, to get the first Q, you have to surpass Edward's 20.02 seconds."

"No matter how you look at it, this is a daunting task."

"Fortunately, Zhou Bing has already broken through his limits this year. He broke 19.90 seconds in Qingtang City, bringing his personal best to 19.89 seconds. I hope he can have a new performance at the Bird's Nest."

"I hope he can show a better version of himself here and live up to his youth."

Zhou Bing was actually a little nervous.

The main problem is that I was placed in this group, which means there is absolutely no hope of getting a top-two finish.

The only option is to try and win over Xiao Q.

Okay, the first two groups have finished their competitions, and he can refer to Xiao Q's competition to guide him.

20.02 seconds or 20.05 seconds.

There must be at least one.

If he surpasses one, he has a chance to win the little Q this time, in front of a national audience at his own doorstep...

Securing a spot in the next round.

As the referee gave the instructions, the eight runners in the third group took to the starting line. Bolt was assigned to lane four—his favorite lane, the "golden lane," offering a wide field of vision and making it easier to observe his opponents.

Blake is in lane six, facing Bolt across the lane, creating a natural standoff. Giovanni de Vana is in lane three, Guliev in lane five, and Francis, Skiles, and Talbot occupy lanes two, seven, and one respectively. A speed extravaganza is about to begin.

Zhou Bing was lucky; his eighth attempt was at least better than the first or second.

In the stands of the Bird's Nest, shouts of "Bolt! Blake! Zhou Bing!" rose and fell.

Two different colored flags waved in the air, creating a spectacular sight.

International students from Jamaica held up signs that read "Jamaica's Twin Stars, Who Can Compete?" while Chinese spectators paid tribute to these two track and field legends with the most enthusiastic cheers.

They were also cheering on their own athletes.

At this moment, all the attention on the track is focused on lanes four and six. The other athletes seem to have become the background of this ultimate showdown, but they are obviously not willing to give up - every athlete who can stand on the World Championship semi-final track has the strength and ambition to compete for the final.

Of course, their ambition refers to...

Impact on Little Q.

Instead of challenging Bolt and Blake.

Bolt and Blake have created a situation in the 200 meters where Bolt and Suarez are in the 100 meters.

Completely different.

No one else wanted to get involved.

It was an absolute crushing defeat.

The two of them have reached a new level. You can't even break 19.50 seconds, so how can you interfere in a battle between such masters?

Don't overthink it.

The key is to honestly strive for a small Q.

Furthermore, Group 3 already has a list of players from Groups 1 and 2, and the qualification line is also there, so everyone has a very clear goal.

Therefore, this match...

Zhou Bing will also face considerable pressure.

"set".

The referee's voice was broadcast throughout the stadium, and the once noisy Bird's Nest instantly fell silent, leaving only the heavy breathing and heartbeats of the athletes.

Bolt braced himself with his hands on the ground, leaned slightly forward, bent his arms, and stared intently at the track ahead. Years of experience in major competitions had given him a calm and collected demeanor.

Besides, Su Shen isn't here, is he?

Blake gritted his teeth, his muscles tense, like a wild beast poised to pounce, ready to burst out of the starting line at any moment.

The other athletes were also in top form. Giovanni clenched his fists, Guliev took a deep breath, Francis kept moving his ankles, and Zhou Bing also bent his arms and spread them out.

Everyone was waiting for the starting gun to fire.

Bang——————

The roar of the starting gun suddenly pierced the night sky above the Bird's Nest in Beijing, cutting through the shouts and clamor of more than 100,000 spectators.

In the men's 200m semifinals, the eight runners in the third heat simultaneously pushed off the starting blocks.

The moment the spikes crunched across the rubber track.

Game start.

All eyes were initially fixed on Bolt in lane four and Blake in lane six—the fateful reunion of these Jamaican twins was the ultimate highlight of the group.

But in the very first second after the gun fired, two strikingly different starting postures with bent arms instantly stole the spotlight:
Usain Bolt in lane four changed his usual somewhat casual straight-arm start. He bent his arms close to his sides, with the angle between his forearm and upper arm locked at about 45 degrees. His fingertips were clenched into fists, with no redundancy in the lateral arm swing.

In lane eight, Chinese athlete Zhou Bing also used a standard bent-arm start, with his elbow close to his waist and abdomen, and his arm swing trajectory was compact. Each arm swing precisely propelled his lower limbs off the ground, making him the only athlete on the track who could echo Bolt's bent-arm start.

Only these two used the bent-arm start, while the other six athletes all used the conventional straight-arm start. Zhou Bing in lane 6 had an astonishingly fast reaction time of 0.132 seconds, which was the best among all the athletes.

Articulated boom launcher.

The arm swing amplitude is instantly maximized.

The calf muscles are fully tensed.

The push-off was crisp and clean, instantly seizing a slight lead.

Anaso Giovadwana in lane three and Ramil Guliev in lane seven followed closely behind, swinging their arms straight and pushing off the ground at a steady pace, trying to find a breakthrough between the two superstars.

Miguel Francis in lane 2, Roberto Skiles in lane 8, and Daniel Talbot in lane 1 all had a slightly slower start and quickly fell to the bottom.

Its competitive advantage remains unshaken throughout the entire process, maintaining its leading position.

However, Zhou Bing's advantage in starting reaction time couldn't last long, mainly because everyone in the current situation was too strong.

Especially Bolt and Blake.

This slight lag is nothing to them.

They rushed up very quickly.

After all, Bolt's bent-arm start was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but the result of two years of specialized training in the United States—this move was tailor-made for the 200-meter track from the very beginning.

Unlike the 100-meter straight start which emphasizes instantaneous explosive power, the 200-meter start requires entering the curve in an instant. The core advantage of the bent-arm start is currently a perfect fit for Bolt's track requirements.

It can significantly reduce air resistance at the start of the race, accelerate the connection between arm swing and push-off, and avoid the loss of shoulder power caused by straight arm swing.

It allows the body to adopt a tilted posture in advance, ensuring a seamless transition when entering a curve, and reserving sufficient energy and power for subsequent acceleration in curves and sprints on straightaways.

hum-

The moment he pushes off the starting blocks, his torso leans forward slightly, his head and torso move in tandem, and he pushes off the ground with all his might on the balls of his feet.

His body had subtly shifted its center of gravity towards the inside of the curve, and the speed of his arm swing far exceeded that of all the other runners around him. Each arm swing carried a strong pulling force. Although he did not pursue an absolute lead at the start, his footwork was steady and his power transmission was smooth.

It not only perfectly demonstrated the technical accumulation of two years of special training, but also completely avoided the potential danger of starting errors in the previous 100-meter semi-final.

He hit the optimal rhythm for the 200-meter start and the turn in one step.

Blake's evolution in cornering over the past two years has gone beyond simple technical adjustments; it's now a comprehensive upgrade of his capabilities to suit the 200-meter track.

Even if his starting reaction isn't top-notch, he can still maximize his control over the rhythm after the start thanks to the details honed through special training.

His talent goes without saying.

With Mills now focusing all his attention on him, his 200-meter performance has also been steadily improving.

After all, Bolt has now gone to the United States.

Mills doesn't need to keep an eye on things every day anymore.

Naturally, we can focus our energy on Blake.

He no longer relies on explosive power to sprint, but strengthens the connection between his core and hips. When he pushes off the starting blocks, his hips maintain a stable forward motion, and his feet land precisely under his center of gravity.

To avoid power loss due to excessive forward extension, the ground reaction force can be efficiently converted into propulsion.

In response to the centrifugal force encountered at the start of a curve, he optimized his body tilt and stride frequency distribution. His torso tilted inward by about 12 degrees, which ensured sufficient centripetal force without affecting breathing and power transmission. At the same time, he shortened his stride and increased his stride frequency, using dense strides to quickly establish a curve rhythm and offset the disadvantage of slightly slower reaction time.

When swinging the arm, the inner and outer sides work together in a differentiated manner, with the inner side swinging quickly with a small amplitude to stabilize the center of gravity.

The outer leg is moderately increased to balance the centrifugal force, and the inner leg's pushing force is specifically strengthened.

This allows him to steadily close the gap before the curve.

Zhou Bing in lane eight also adopted a neat and proper starting posture with his arms bent. He didn't have Bolt's innate explosive power, but he was well-versed in the power generation logic of the bent-arm start, after all, the inventor of this technique, Su Shen, was right beside him.

When asked, it revealed all sorts of mysteries.

It's definitely much more convenient than where Bolt is.

Keep your elbow close to your torso and swing your inner arm slightly less.

With a slight exertion of the outer arm, the push-off force only utilizes 75% of its own strength. After the start, instead of blindly accelerating, the body leans towards the inside of the curve.

He completed the seamless transition from "start to cornering" in one second, with his trajectory precisely matching the inside of lane five, and maintained a relatively stable leading group with Bolt in lane four and Blake in lane six.

He was neither quickly pulled away by the two, nor did he blindly chase after them, causing him to overexert himself too early.

Zhou Bing was perfectly clear-headed from the moment the gun went off.

He is well aware of his own competitive ability and that there is a huge gap between him and world-class sprinters like Bolt and Blake. His best time this season is only 20.11 seconds. Even if he tries his best, there is no way he can catch up with these two legendary athletes who can run under 19.80 seconds.

In this group, besides the absolute advantage of the top two, the competition for third place is equally fierce. Giovandana has the best time of the season at 20.01 seconds, and Guliev is consistently around 20 seconds. If you can maintain your rhythm and avoid overexertion, securing third place and a spot in the final is the best solution for this semi-final.

It should be noted that although Guryev achieved a time of 19.88 seconds this season, it was still a shot taken against the odds.

Strong strength.

However, that all happened after the World Championships.

In this World Championships, including this one, his time has never broken 20 seconds.

Therefore, theoretically speaking...

Zhou Bing still has the advantage against him.

At least psychologically, they have an advantage.

Otherwise, if Zhou Bing were to maintain this performance now, he would probably have to readjust his strategy.

Their mindsets are also different.

In the first 30 meters, the layout of the track was initially determined.

With his exceptional starting reaction, Zhou Bing took a slight lead, swinging his arms faster and faster and pushing off the ground with his lower legs to maximize his power, attempting to establish a large enough lead in the corners. However, due to the difference in their overall strength, he was quickly caught up by Bolt and Blake.

Bang bang bang bang bang.

Blake quickly caught up.

It wasn't Bolt?!
That's a bit strange.

However, the competition continues.

After Bolt's explosive arm movement, he maintained a stable body, gradually widening his stride and slowly increasing his speed, closing the gap to Blake by only 0.04 seconds.

His gaze was fixed intently on Blake's back, his lips remaining completely expressionless.

He understood his junior brother's mindset all too well.

After the Moscow battle, he has regained his absolute confidence in the 200 meters.

In the semifinals, they didn't go all out against him at all, and even held back.

Zhou Bing remained firmly at the top of the third tier, closely following the two, with a gap of about 0.3 seconds between him and Bolt Blake.

The gap between him and Giovadevanagh behind him remained at 0.08 seconds. His bent-arm attack continued, his arm swing posture remained unchanged, and his push-off force gradually increased to 80% of his own strength, with precise and accurate trajectory when entering the corner.

The outer forefoot of the foot strikes the ground first, while the inner toes of the foot turn slightly inward, and the inner forefoot exerts force. This asymmetrical push-off action perfectly counteracts the imbalance caused by centrifugal force.

This kept his running rhythm steady, without any deviation from his trajectory.

He occasionally glanced at Jowadevana behind him, watching the South African athlete sprinting with all his might, and had already made his decision.

Try to keep up with the pace of the leaders on the curves, and slow down in the second half of the straights to maintain third place. Never do anything that is futile and results in nothing.

At this point, Jowaldwana was giving it his all. This South African athlete is known for his explosive power, swinging his arm with full range and pushing off the ground with tremendous force, trying to close the gap with Zhou Bing and challenge for third place.

Guliev maintained his steady pace, closely following Giovadvana, with an extremely fast stride frequency, constantly adjusting his arm swing trajectory to avoid energy loss.

Francis, Skiles, and Talbot were completely outpaced, their steps became increasingly sluggish, their arm swing rhythm became chaotic, and they could only run mechanically.

He became the backdrop for this "battle of the two stars + Zhou Bing's defense of his position," lacking any competitive edge throughout the entire process.

However, this South African athlete had never broken 20 seconds before this season.

His best time is only 20.13 seconds.

But he was actually hiding his footwork, because at the beginning of the season, he opened up for 20 seconds using a strong wind of over 4 meters. However, many people don't acknowledge that he used a strong wind gun.

Furthermore, the IAAF has not labeled it as legal.

Not many people paid attention to it.

So far, he has never opened it for 20 seconds.

In this respect, he is very similar to Guliyev.

But if you think he's not good enough, then you're wrong.

Because he is conserving his strength, his current condition is actually better than Guliev's.

He just didn't want to expend too much energy before the final.

He also wants to compete for a medal.

In such a competition, even the most skilled young players tend to hold back.

In the finals, launch a surprise attack to disrupt the opponent's rhythm.

As the race entered the curve, the first major speed battle officially began—and the curve was also the best time for Bolt to unleash his advantage from a bent-arm start.

This was a crucial stage for Zhou Bing to hold onto third place and begin laying the groundwork for a more relaxed approach to the top three.

Bolt's cornering technique is textbook-perfect, and the advantage of his arm swing during a bent-arm start makes his acceleration in corners incredibly smooth.

He used the inertia of centrifugal force to stabilize the tilt angle of his torso at about 11°, generating sufficient centripetal force to avoid falling to the outside due to insufficient centripetal force.

With slight adjustments to the range of motion of the bent arm swing, the inner arm swings slightly less than the outer arm, while the outer arm swings with slightly greater force, causing the shoulder and hip to tilt synchronously. Each arm swing can precisely drive the lower limbs to push off the ground, gradually increasing the stride from 2.2 meters at the start to 2.4 meters.

The speed has increased rapidly.

He gradually narrowed the gap with Blake.

Blake was equally impressive, his cornering performance was also top-notch.

This Jamaican sprinter, known as "The Beast," maintained his torso balance with his powerful core strength, his straight arm swings became faster and faster, and his push-off force was maximized, allowing him to firmly maintain his lead.

He could clearly feel the immense pressure from Bolt behind him, knowing how terrifying his senior's cornering acceleration was. So he dared not slack off in the slightest, giving his all with every step and using all his strength with every arm swing, trying to extend his lead to more than 0.1 seconds before exiting the corner, laying a solid foundation for the straightaway sprint.

After all, the advantage can be maintained until the main straight.

That's how you win.

Regarding the later stages.

The 200-meter dash is my domain.

It's not Bolt's.

The distance between the two remained perfectly constant. Bolt in lane four, Zhou Bing in lane eight, and Blake in lane six—the three figures formed an almost straight line, creating a gust of air on the track.

It seemed as if everyone was cheering for this peak tug-of-war.

The shouts of "Bolt! Blake! Zhou Bing!" from the stands at the Bird's Nest were deafening!
Some are hoping Bolt will overtake them in the later stages. Others are hoping Blake will maintain his strong performance.

Some people are hoping that Zhou Bing can hold onto third place.

To secure another spot in the finals for Chinese sprinting.

Zhou Bing in lane five was still steadily keeping up. His acceleration on the curves wasn't as rapid as Bolt's, nor as decisive as Blake's. He maintained consistent force when pushing off the ground, and his arm swing rhythm remained perfectly steady. His speed was stable at 85% of his own, and the gap between him and Bolt and Blake was slowly widening to about 0.4 seconds. However, the gap between him and Giovanni de Vana behind him remained stable at 0.08 seconds.

He didn't try to speed up and catch up with the twin stars in front, because he knew it would be futile and would only deplete his energy, allowing Giovadwana behind him to take the opportunity to overtake him.

He didn't deliberately slow down, because he needed to maintain his current pace and lay the groundwork for a later move to hold onto his position. What he needed to do was to smoothly complete the curve, and after exiting the curve, he would deliberately slow down to gracefully maintain third place.

At times like this, nobody really wants to waste too much energy.

But I want a better position.

This kind of conflict will arise, and it will come down to who has the better mindset in the game.

Midway through the bend, Bolt finally made his first overtake.

Ultimately, it's still the sacred body of track and field.

The world's number one bend.

However, compared to the ability of the curved blade, Blake is far inferior.

With precise trajectory control and smoother power delivery, Bolt seized the moment when Blake's arm swing rhythm deviated slightly...

The force generated by bending and swinging the arms increases, and the force of pushing off the ground increases to 93% of one's own strength!

The stride length has increased again!

He instantly overtook Blake!
Upon seeing Chaoyue, the crowd erupted in cheers!
It feels like going back to 08!
As he crossed the midpoint of the curve, a resolute glint flashed in Bolt's eyes—the domineering aura of a returning king!

Do you also want to learn from Su?

First of all, you need to have the ability!

Blake, sensing that he had been surpassed, showed no panic; instead, he became even more resolute...

Immediately increase the force of pushing off the ground and speed up the arm swing rhythm.

After all, he was very confident in himself. It didn't matter if he couldn't outrun the front, because he had never outrun Bolt before, had he?

As long as we don't fall too far behind, it's fine.

Zhou Bing watched the intense tug-of-war between the two in front of him, his eyes filled with no envy, only clear-headedness. He maintained his own rhythm, his arm swing and bending posture unchanged, his push-off from the ground steady and his trajectory precise, always guarding the inside lane of eighth, giving Giovadwana behind him no chance to cut in and overtake.

At this moment, Giovanni devanagh was unsure whether he should exert force. He wanted to exert force, but he was also hesitant. This conflicted state of mind caused his shoulder muscles to tighten, his breathing to become erratic, and his arm swing rhythm to deviate significantly.

Although they are still trying their best to stabilize the situation, they are still unable to narrow the gap with Zhou Bing.

There is even a trend of gradual expansion.

Don't forget, Zhou Bing is also a 200-meter sprinter with strong endurance in the later stages of the race.

It's just that it couldn't balance both speed and endurance.

It hasn't reached the point where it needs to be a historical event.

But his endurance in the later stages is indeed his strength.

This further solidified Zhou Bing's determination to "leave the waters to secure third place".

He knew that as long as he didn't make any major mistakes on the straightaways and slowed down, third place would be his for the taking.

At the end of the curve, with 10 meters left before exiting, the tug-of-war in the curve reached its critical point.

Bolt exerted his full power again, swinging his arms to their maximum and pushing off the ground with increased force, achieving an astonishing stride length of 2.5 meters. He instantly widened the gap with Blake and approached the exit point of the corner with a slight advantage.

Blake gritted his teeth and accelerated with all his might, maximizing the range of his arm swing and pushing off the ground to 95% of his own strength, gradually closing the distance with Bolt until the two were almost side by side as they exited the corner.

Meanwhile, Zhou Bing in lane eight continued to follow steadily, and successfully completed the exit maneuver the moment the two exited the turn.

At this moment, his strategy of releasing water to secure his position officially began.

The core principle of exiting a curve is to slowly straighten the torso using centrifugal inertia, avoiding a speed drop caused by rushing to straighten the back, while simultaneously maintaining a steady pace in the curve and quickly switching to the sprint rhythm of the straightaway.

As Bolt exited the corner, his torso slowly straightened due to inertia. The same bent-arm swing technique he had developed through two years of intensive training in the United States remained unchanged, maintaining an extremely efficient swing rhythm. His figure was like a black lightning bolt, seizing a slight lead.

Blake's momentum as he exited the corner was equally rapid, his torso straightening out cleanly and crisply, and his explosive power was fully unleashed.

Bang bang bang bang bang.

It should be noted that he has always had a top-notch advantage in the final sprint, and this should have been the best time for him to shake off his opponents and secure the victory.

But Bolt's kingly legacy shines through precisely on this final straight...

It was displayed to the fullest extent.

Even though Blake had clearly started accelerating on the straightaway, making the most of his speed advantage in the later stages, with increasingly sharp strides and more rapid arm swings, and every step he took was driven by a beast-like determination... he still couldn't completely shake off Bolt.

The two raced side by side on the straight track of the Bird's Nest, their figures intertwined, their breaths mingling, the difference between them always remaining within a hair's breadth, neither able to gain an absolute advantage.

This straight-track duel was devoid of fancy techniques, consisting only of pure clashes of strength and contests of wills—a peak tug-of-war between two Jamaican legends.

Every second is breathtaking.

No one noticed that behind the speed storm of the twin stars, Zhou Bing was steadily maintaining his position on the track.

Taking advantage of his position when exiting the corner, he kept his center of gravity within the optimal range, maintaining a steady and composed pace. He neither blindly accelerated to catch up with the two players who were far ahead, nor did he give any opportunity for the players behind him to overtake him.

No matter how hard Giovadevana sprinted behind him, trying to find an opportunity to overtake, Zhou Bing could accurately predict the route and adjust his steps slightly to block the key position, firmly grasping the advantage of third place. That composure and confidence were a clear understanding of his own strength and a perfect manifestation of his wisdom on the field.

The core essence of exiting a curve is always "following the inertia, maintaining a smooth transition, and not losing speed"—slowly straightening the torso with the remaining centrifugal force of the curve, rather than forcibly straightening the back and waist, to avoid the break in stride frequency and loss of speed caused by sudden torso straightening, and to achieve a seamless transition from a steady pace on the curve to a smooth pace on the straight.

The moment Bolt exited the corner, he brought his 200-meter cornering technique, honed through two years of intensive training in the United States, to its fullest potential. His signature bent-arm swing, adapted to the start of a corner and carried through to the exit, remained unchanged throughout. The efficiency of the compact swing with the shoulder as the axis was undiminished. This not only stabilized the speed base at the end of the corner but also allowed for precise and controllable control over every inch of his torso's return to center thanks to the power transmission advantage of the bent-arm swing.

Blake's cornering technique is also top-notch. His body straightens out cleanly and crisply, and his steps are tight and smooth without any hesitation. His hidden explosive power is not fully released, but he steadily accelerates along with the momentum of exiting the corner.

It was only the semi-finals, and both of them knew they couldn't go all out.

At this moment, both of them had the same idea in mind—it was just the semi-finals, there was no need to go all out and exhaust their physical strength, after all, the finals were the real stage.

They all wanted to conserve their energy for the final championship battle.

On the other hand, being first in the group is not only an honor, but also a golden lane in the finals, and the foundation for the subsequent battles. They are unwilling to give up easily and insist on holding onto this initiative of first place.

This inner conflict was clearly written in the way the two of them ran.

Blake first showed his advantage in the later stages, gradually increasing his pace and the power of his arm swing, but his exertion always carried a hint of restraint and a hint of holding back.

He could clearly feel that he still had enough stamina to push himself to the limit, enough speed to shake off Bolt, but every time his fingertips were about to clench with all his might, a thought would pop into his mind:
Don't push yourself too hard; save your energy for the final.

Therefore, he repeatedly restrained his power, and his speed was repeatedly stuck at the critical point of "being able to catch up but not shake off". Even if he occasionally used the momentum of the later stage to catch up with Bolt slightly, or even slightly overtake him by a point, he would never push harder to widen the gap, but simply maintain that distance by a hair's breadth.

They didn't let Bolt pull away completely.

I also don't push myself to the limit.

Bolt's inner turmoil was deeply hidden. He maintained his signature bent-arm swing posture, his body relaxed, his breathing steady, and his stride long and firm. That composure, seemingly the confidence of a king, was actually a result of inner weighing and restraint.

Two years of special training in the United States gave him enough strength to withstand any attack from Blake, and enough speed to leave his junior teammate behind, but he also did not want to give it his all in the semifinals.

He just wants to maintain his lead and secure first place in the group by sticking to his own rhythm.

As for defeating Blake with all his might.

That's something you should only do in the finals.

Thus, in the final 50 meters of the straightaway, there was no extreme speed collision, no do-or-die decisiveness, only the two tacitly conserving their strength in a tug-of-war.

Blake's late-game advantage ultimately failed to translate into a decisive lead, not because he couldn't, but because he wasn't willing to fight.

Bolt's control of rhythm ultimately failed to translate into a complete crushing victory, not because he lacked the ability, but because he was unwilling to fight.

The two raced side by side in the middle of the straight road, their figures closely intertwined, the difference between them always remaining at a mere millimeter.

Blake took a slight lead in the first step, but Bolt caught up with a more steady pace in the next.

Neither side was willing to expend even a fraction of their energy to disrupt this delicate balance.

Bolt's bent-arm swing maintained the regular rhythm after special training, without any intention to speed up the amplitude. The power of the shoulder and hip connection always left a margin of error. The push-off of the feet was just to accurately step to the rhythm, rather than to squeeze the calf muscles to the extreme.

He would occasionally glance at Blake beside him out of the corner of his eye. There was no hostility in his eyes, only a tacit understanding that said, "I know you're holding back, and so am I."

This meant that he wasn't unable to catch up or shake off the opponent; it was just that every time he considered "going all out to accelerate," his anticipation of the tough battle in the finals forced him to back down.

We must win first place in the group, but not at the cost of exhausting our physical strength.

Blake's dilemma was even greater than Bolt's. His advantage in the later stages of the race was already more prominent than Bolt's, and he still had a lot of explosive power in his legs. If he relaxed his restraint slightly, increased the force of his arm swing, and widened his stride, he could instantly widen the gap and secure first place in the group.

But just before his arm reached its maximum swing, he quietly withdrew his strength, and his stride also slowed down by half a beat.

He knew all too well that the ultimate showdown between him and Bolt would never be in this semi-final, but on the track of the final.

He knew better than anyone that if he put too much effort into his physical strength at this moment, even if he won first place in the group, he would only be a runner-up in the final when facing the double attack of Bolt and Gatlin.

His goal is to win the championship.

He's still missing a World Championship title, and he absolutely has to win it.

then.

He ran right up to Bolt, maintaining a very close gap, occasionally using the momentum of the later stages to slightly overtake him, but only for a brief moment, never actively pushing to consolidate his advantage.

His fingertips curled slightly, his jaw wasn't clenched, and his muscles remained relaxed, maintaining that seemingly swift running posture.

It was just a deliberate display... a "superficial strength".

His very being is one of restraint and self-control.

Blake even secretly considered: as long as he doesn't fall too far behind, it's fine to get second place in the group, but if he can take first place with minimal physical exertion, why not?
This inner turmoil of gain and loss made him hesitate a little and less resolute in his determination.

No one would pay much attention to the fact that behind those two radiant figures, Zhou Bing was walking his own "path to stability."

The gap between him and the twin stars ahead of him was already fixed. That chasm was something that he could not bridge by accelerating at full speed, so he never had the slightest thought of blindly chasing after them.

He steadily controlled his race line and pace by taking advantage of his position when exiting the corner.

Giovanni and Guliev, who were behind them, had already noticed something was wrong. They increased their pace time and time again, trying to find an opening to overtake from the inside or outside, even at the cost of disrupting their breathing rhythm, and tried their best to catch up with Zhou Bing.

They snatched this precious ticket to the finals.

The reason is simple: they've discovered that if Zhou Bing takes one card, there will only be one left.

One of them is destined not to make it to the finals.

That would be absolutely unacceptable.

But Zhou Bing's defense was impeccable.

He had imagined this scenario before the match.

There's no rush at all.

He didn't need to speed up or exert force; he simply adjusted his body's center of gravity slightly. Every time Giovadvana tried to cut in, he could accurately predict the move, gently shift his steps, and steadily block the key position, completely thwarting the opponent's attempt to overtake.

Each time Guliev increased his pace, Guliev would simply adjust his stride accordingly, maintaining a slight but solid lead.

At this moment, Zhou Bing's breathing was steady, his steps were deliberate, and there was no hesitation or resentment in his eyes, only a clear and resolute determination.

Third place is enough.

Don't think too much.

Don't be greedy with your cuts.

As long as it can be done.

This is his optimal solution for this semi-final: hold onto it, and victory will follow.

In the final 15 meters, the tension and stability on the track created an extreme contrast.

Bolt finally increased his effort slightly, not to shake off Blake, but simply to maintain his current lead.

His arm swing remained unchanged, only the speed of the arm swing increased slightly, the force of the push-off increased by 10%, and his body leaned slightly forward. The exertion of force was just enough, never overexerting himself.

Seeing this, Blake reluctantly increased his speed slightly, but still refused to go all out. He could catch up with that slight gap, but he was unwilling to take another step to overtake.

He was ultimately afraid.

I'm afraid that pushing myself to the limit will be counterproductive.

In the final 10 meters, the distance between the two was absolutely precise, down to the millimeter.

Bolt's chest was slightly ahead of Blake's, probably not even half an inch; that lead wasn't due to an absolute crushing of strength.

He just had more courage than Blake to hold back even a fraction of his strength.

A hint of resentment flashed in Blake's eyes.

But in the end, he still couldn't let go of his last bit of restraint.

He slowed his pace slightly, acknowledging the slight gap, but did not give up completely, still keeping close to Bolt as he marched toward the finish line.

As Bolt's chest swept past the finish line sensor, Blake followed closely behind.

Almost at the same moment, the two figures crossed the finish line together.

The cheers in the Bird's Nest reached their peak instantly, then fell into a brief silence as everyone waited for the results on the big screen.

The next second, two identical numbers were clearly displayed before everyone's eyes—19.70 seconds.

The thousandths is 19.691 seconds.

Blake's time is 19.699 seconds.

They appear to be the same thousandths place, but they are actually nearly 0.01 different.

The winner of Group 3 in the semifinals is Usain Bolt.

Second in the group: Yohan Blake.

A tie in results, but a subtle difference in ranking, perfectly illustrates the tense and close semi-final.

After crossing the finish line, Bolt slowed down slowly. He didn't roar to the sky or cheer wildly. He just put his hands on his knees and breathed heavily.

Sweat streamed down his face, but there was no ecstasy in his eyes.

There was only a sense of relief that "we finally held onto first place without overexerting our physical strength."

He turned to look at Blake, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This made Blake very angry, and he didn't even bother to look at Bol.

"You've wasted so much energy, let's see what you do in the finals."

"Hehe, you don't need to worry, junior brother."

The moment their eyes met, Zhou Bing steadily crossed the finish line.

Giovadwana, who was behind him, ultimately failed to overtake him and collapsed on the track, his face full of disappointment and resentment.

Zhou Bing slowly stopped, stretched his arms, and bent over to regulate his breathing. He looked up at the big screen and saw his name firmly in third place.

call--

A calm smile appeared on his face.

"Although it's only third place, it's not bad."

"For me."

"It's already pretty good."

And that's the 3rd place result displayed there.

It's a moderate 20 seconds.

Of course, you could also say that Xiao Zhou was lucky.

After all, of the three semi-final groups, only his group had the strongest wind speed.

It is close to one meter.

The rest are either slightly favorable winds or headwinds.

However, luck is also a part of ability.