The Su God of the Reopening of the Sports Arena

Chapter 2572 The Rio Final with its Terrible Format
The August evening breeze in Rio.

The air was thick with the salty, humid scent of the Maracanã Stadium.

The electronic clock in the Olympic Stadium ticked away. Just 70-80 minutes after the men's 100-meter semi-finals ended, the check-in whistle for the finals rang out shrilly.

This is the most controversial competition format in the Rio Olympics track and field events, with less than 90 minutes between the 100-meter semi-finals and finals.

For sprinters who have exhausted all their strength, the lactic acid in their muscles has not yet been metabolized, the tension in their fascia has not yet been relieved, and even the time to catch their breath seems like a luxury.

This is why Bolt gave up a very slow time in the semi-finals, but in the finals he only managed 9.80 seconds.

The main problem is that the rest period was too short.

The spectators in the stands hadn't yet recovered from Suarez's terrifying 9.75-second time in the semifinals when the names of the eight finalists appeared on the electronic screen beside the red synthetic track:

Su Shen, Jimmy Vicourt, André de Grasse, Yohan Blake, Zhao Haohuan, Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell, Zhang Peimeng.

This lineup brings together legends from the past and rising stars, including a former world record holder who once dominated the field, a promising new generation of sprinters, and three Chinese sprinters fighting side by side. But everyone's eyes were fixed on the deep red figure in lane six—Su Shen.

The man who strolled through the last 20 meters of the semi-final and still ran 9.75 seconds became the sole focus of the final and an insurmountable barrier in the minds of all his opponents.

However, the entire check-in area is now filled with shouts and curses.

"What is the organizing committee doing? Short-distance events are all about physical condition. With such a short rest period, we can't even finish basic dynamic stretching. The tension in our muscles hasn't even dissipated before we have to unleash our full power again. This isn't about speed; it's about whose body can withstand the most strain!"

"With so little time, there's not even enough time to drink some water and catch my breath, let alone do a recovery massage! My hip fascia is still taut, which will definitely affect my power generation at the start. This competition format is simply a joke!"

"It was too rushed. I had just changed my clothes after crossing the finish line in the semifinals when the check-in whistle blew, which disrupted my warm-up rhythm. I was hoping to adjust my condition properly after the semifinals, but now my body is still in the tense state of the semifinals, and I can't quickly switch to the competitive mode of the finals at all."

"This is ridiculous! There has never been such an arrangement before! Even in the World Championships, there is a two or even three-hour interval between the semi-finals and the finals, which at least allows us a full recovery. Now, we have to prepare for the finals right after crossing the finish line of the semi-finals. There is no time to treat the Achilles tendon injury. If we exert even a little force at the start, it might be ruined!"

……

In the check-in area, the athletes' expressions were etched with fatigue and tension. Justin Gatlin rubbed his thigh, pressing his fingertips against his aching quadriceps.

The short rest of just over an hour hadn't allowed his old legs to recover.

Asafa Powell leaned against the wall, his brow furrowed. The Jamaican veteran had been suffering from a recurring Achilles tendon injury this season, and the all-out sprint in the semifinals had aggravated the pain. He raised his hand to rub his ankle, his eyes filled with helplessness.

Jimmy Vicourt was panting heavily. After being completely overwhelmed by Su Shen's speed in the semi-finals, his eyes lacked the sharpness of the preliminaries and were filled with helplessness.

Even the arm swings during warm-up seemed a bit stiff.

Only Su Shen remained calm.

He stood in the corner of the check-in area, following the coach's rhythm as he did simple dynamic stretches.

Raise your hands, press your legs, rotate your hips—the movements are slow yet precise, without the slightest haste.

On the deep red Chinese team uniform, the five-star red flag shone brightly under the stadium lights. His fingertips gently traced the anti-slip pattern of the starting blocks, feeling the elasticity of the plastic track. The fascia chain under his skin slowly awakened in the gentle stretching, without showing any sluggishness due to the short period of consecutive races.

This is a body honed through years of rigorous training, and even more so, the ultimate control of the king of speed.

Of course, it's also because he didn't use much force at all.

With his current strength.

They let the water flow out of the water by four or five levels to run the race.

That's right, you didn't sweat much, did you?

Zhang Peimeng patted his shoulder, her voice slightly panting: "You didn't rest for long enough, my legs are still stiff."

Su Shen smiled and patted his back, her voice steady: "Just follow the rhythm and relax."

"If you're tired, everyone's tired too; that's fair."

Make good use of it and push your limits.

"I believe everyone has made adjustments and undergone special training this year in preparation for the short-term resumption of the competition format."

A simple sentence gave Zhang Peimeng immense confidence. As one of China's twin stars in sprinting, Zhang Peimeng's ability to stand on the track for the Olympic 100-meter final was already a breakthrough, and with Su Shen by his side, the red track had its most solid support.

And just as Su Shen said, they have targeted training almost every year.

Moreover, each year's competition is tailored to its specific characteristics.

Of course, Su Shen would select several characteristics to train in order to deceive others.

But in fact, there must be something useful hidden inside.

Take the Rio Olympics, for example.

The rest time between the two items is short.

That is one of the directions for preparing for war.

Of course, in his eyes, that was the only one.

It's just inconvenient to say it outright.

In this respect, domestic athletes' targeted training is far more targeted than that of athletes from other countries.

The moment Zhao Haohuan saw this, he understood; the kid had guessed right again…

However, if you can guess correctly every time, there must be some other secret involved.

He was too lazy to ask.

Everyone has their own secrets, why is that?

Moreover, Su Shen has people all over the competition organizing committee now; he might have inside information and news.

After all, he's an incredibly wealthy man.

What's so difficult about finding out some inside information?
After all, under a capitalist system...

Money makes the world go round.

You can make a millstone grind a ghost, that's all.

Moreover, those who have undergone targeted training have a significant advantage over those who haven't.

That's enough.

On the other side, Yohan Blake was staring at Suarez's figure. This junior of Bolt was once called "Jamaican Lightning II". In the semi-final, he ran a time of 9.85 seconds, but it was still overshadowed by Suarez's 9.75 seconds.

He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and tried to regain his fighting spirit in his eyes, but the image of Su Shen's overwhelming victory in the semi-finals kept flashing through his mind. That deep red figure was like a brand, engraved in his heart.

It is simply unmatched.

200 meters is still something to think about, but 100 meters...

That's too difficult.

André de Grasse, head bowed, was constantly adjusting his breathing. This young and strong Canadian star should have been the most suited to the short-interval format, but the nearly three-body-length gap left by Suarez in the semi-finals had already eroded most of his confidence.

Moreover, this competition has so many big names involved.

He wasn't confident he could steal the cards.

Bolt leaned against the railing of the stands, his fingertips casually stroking the ice-cold beer bottle, his gaze fixed on the group of anxious athletes in the check-in area.

He secretly rejoiced at the absurd competition format of the Rio Olympics.

His gaze pierced through the crowd and landed directly on the anxious figures in the check-in area. He could almost hear the suppressed curses of the athletes, the arguments between the coaches and the organizing committee staff, and the low groans from the team doctor massaging their muscles.

And that string of glaring numbers on the electronic screen—

There are only 25 minutes between the semi-final and the final.

Normally, it would take at least another hour.

This made him sigh inwardly.

I'm glad I ultimately chose to retire.

They did not embark on this seemingly glorious but actually demanding track.

He leaned against the cool metal railing, slightly raised his eyes, and his gaze swept over every tense figure in the check-in area.

Gatlin was half-bent over, his rough hands pressed hard on his aching thighs, his fingertips kneading his still throbbing quadriceps muscles. His brows were furrowed, and he looked just like some of the older athletes he had seen in the past, after participating in high-intensity competitions, when their muscles were full of lactic acid.

Powell sat on the bench, the team doctor pressing hard on his Achilles tendon. Fine beads of cold sweat trickled down the veteran's forehead, his jaw clenched. That old injury was a Achilles' heel in his career, and this back-to-back schedule was undoubtedly rubbing salt into the wound.

Even a young player like De Grasse was frowning and rubbing his calves repeatedly. His face had lost all the high spirits he had before the semi-finals, leaving only the frustration of his disrupted rhythm.

As Bolt watched all this, he subconsciously put himself in that situation, and a wave of fear washed over him.

He is now thirty years old, which is already late in his career for a sprinter, even though he has been disciplined and hardworking over the years.

However, all bodily functions are declining.

In particular, its recovery ability is far from what it was at its peak.

This is something that no one can avoid.

That's why veteran athletes try their best to maintain their form and avoid injuries—because their recovery ability is insufficient.

Back when he was in his twenties and at his peak, he could easily recover after running a high-intensity 100-meter semi-final.

But what if you're thirty?
It takes at least two hours, or even longer, for the fascia, which is stretched to its limit, to fully relax and for the throbbing muscles throughout the body to calm down.

Allow the accumulated lactic acid to be metabolized slowly.

Not to mention, it's about getting a proper warm-up, adjusting your breathing and competitive state to prepare for the final battle.

But the Rio tournament format only provides less than 80 minutes of rest time, which is nothing short of a pipe dream for him.

Just imagine.

If I were actually standing in that check-in area right now, after achieving my results in the semi-finals, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have the strength to lift my leg for a complete dynamic stretch.

After running for so many years, many people have old injuries. The high-intensity competitions over the years have caused damage to the fascia and muscles. With such a short interval, there is simply no time to do any effective recovery treatment. When the final race starts, the old injuries will be severely aggravated with the slightest exertion.

The physical discomfort was enough to affect his explosive power.

His ability to finish strong is his trump card for dominating the race, but without enough rest, his muscles simply cannot sustain it, and his running rhythm will inevitably be disrupted.

Let alone competing with Suarez in his prime, he would probably struggle even against players like Gatlin and Blake.

Indeed, that was the case in Rio. Historically, after running such an amazing time in the semifinals, he only managed 9.80 seconds in the finals.

Even at the end, there were a few moments of leniency followed by chest-pounding.

But this is far from the strength he showed in the semi-finals.

Undoubtedly, the others were also affected by the close firing times in the semi-finals and finals.

Therefore, it was indeed the right decision not to come, if they had faced Su Shen, who was in his prime.

They'll only lose even worse than they did in London.

If you force yourself to participate, you'll likely end up looking pathetic on the field.

Not only will they fail to win the competition, but they will also ruin the legendary reputation they have built up over the years with this unreasonable competition system.

It would be better to stop at that perfect 9.39 seconds in Mexico City, giving his sprinting career the most dignified ending.

Bolt gently shook the ice-cold beer in his hand, the coolness of the bottle seeping into his heart through his palm, making his sense of relief even clearer.

He raised his hand and took a sip. The icy liquid slid down his throat, suppressing the slight tremor in his heart caused by memories of the competition. A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips as he silently repeated to himself:

Thank goodness they didn't come. Thank goodness they didn't come.

Fortunately, I decisively announced my retirement in the Mexico City night, and was not tempted by the glory of the Rio Olympics.

They didn't let their bodies endure such harsh treatment that they shouldn't have had to bear.

Otherwise, you might suddenly see this firing time.

It almost made him faint.

My mindset wasn't as good back then as it is now.

Guy noticed the firing time between the two shots while watching the game at home.

The same mindset applies.

For veterans, shorter rest periods are less conducive to recovery.

Doing it yourself will only result in less than ideal performance.

Thank goodness they didn't come.

Enjoying family time is much better than struggling to participate in a competition and getting scolded for not achieving results, isn't it?
The current internet age.

People's hearts are becoming more and more restless.

Nobody cares what achievements you've made before.

Retreat bravely from the rapids.

That's a kind of wisdom.

Under such a terrible competition format.

The men's 100-meter final at the 2016 Rio Olympics is about to begin.