I, Yan Jiefang, will live to 2025 in this courtyard house.

In China today, individual heroism is no longer valued, nor are there the fan-driven behaviors of chasing celebrities to the airport to greet them, as was common in later generations.

After all, in this era, airplanes were not something that ordinary people could access.

They probably don't even know where the airport is.

At most, I've only ever seen passenger planes roaring overhead while walking on the ground.

Although the results this time were not bad, the authorities did not organize a large-scale public welcome ceremony like last time.

However, many reporters from major newspapers and television stations came.

In 1988, Beijing Capital International Airport still had the old Terminal 1. The exit area was small and there were no barriers to block it.

As soon as the team arrived at the exit, they were shoved with microphones.

Many photographers pointed their lenses at them and began searching for the most dazzling figure.

The athletes and staff who were originally walking in front were pushed aside by them, and almost all the microphones were eventually shoved into Yan Jiefang's face.

Yan Jiefang knew that his fifteen Olympic gold medals and multiple world records were the most outstanding achievements of the delegation and would definitely make him the focus of attention.

This situation is almost inevitable when I return to China this time.

Therefore, before returning to China, he had anticipated the current situation and made some preparations for it.

Moreover, Team Leader Han and others were well-informed and knew about the possible situations they might face, so they had informed him in advance and prepared him mentally.

So even though it was his first time facing this situation, he remained calm and composed.

The air was filled with strong, different perfume scents emanating from several female reporters.

"Comrade Yan Jiefang, what is your opinion on this matter...?"

"Comrade Yan Jiefang, you..."

...

Reporters around them raised their hands and leaned forward, all wanting to be the first to speak. A cacophony of questions erupted, making the scene extremely lively and chaotic.

Standing next to Yan Jiefang, Team Leader Han and others immediately pushed the people who had surrounded them away slowly, and raised their hands to press down:

"Everyone, please be quiet. We understand how you feel, but please do it one at a time."

After more than ten minutes, the scene gradually quieted down.

Before they could even signal that they could begin, a female reporter with short, neat hair at the front of the crowd spoke the fastest:

"Hello, Comrade Yan Jiefang, I am Lin Lan, a reporter from the Sports Daily."

The delegation as a whole performed poorly in this competition, but you were the only one to win 15 gold medals and break world records repeatedly. You are known in the industry as a unique "veteran" in the domestic sports world, and your strength completely surpasses that of other athletes.

How do you view this stark contrast in evaluations?

This question fell right within the framework Yan Jiefang had planned, and he stated it bluntly:

That's an exaggeration.

My results this time look pretty good. Besides my own hard work and training, it is also inseparable from the careful guidance of the coaching team and the overall support of the delegation, which allowed me to concentrate on the competition.

In addition, many teammates were going abroad for the first time and were not used to the new environment.

The environments and opponents differ in each project, and all teammates gave their all. Winning and losing are normal in competition, and they shouldn't be criticized arbitrarily.

A male reporter took a half step forward and asked:

"I am Zhang**, a reporter from the Capital Evening News."

There has been controversy that the national team has focused on developing you, allocating a large amount of resources and competition slots to you, indirectly crowding out development opportunities for other team members. How do you respond to this criticism?

Yan Jiefang looked the other party in the eye:

"I am an invited participant and do not participate in the national team selection process."

All slots and opportunities for this competition are determined based on the training assessment during the competition, and there are no special privileges.

Domestic sports need a diverse range of development, rather than one dominant force.

Everyone should pay more attention to Comrade Chen; she won the women's singles gold medal in her first Olympic Games.

Also, Comrade Xu, Comrade Lou, Comrade Gao, as well as Comrade Chen and Comrade Wei!

They all upheld the national team's honor amidst a somber public opinion climate, and that's the breakthrough that truly deserves recognition.

A young reporter standing nearby raised his hand and asked in a low voice:

"I'm Cao*, a reporter from the Youth Daily. You've excelled in both swimming and track and field, two high-intensity sports, winning every event and breaking records. Do you have any training secrets you could share?"

Yan Jiefang spoke in a plain tone:

There is no secret, only hard training.

The credit goes more to the cooks and the team doctor. Their diet ensured my physical condition, and their physical therapy prevented injuries. These behind-the-scenes efforts are the foundation of my consistent performance.

While the other reporters were still considering their words, Lin Lan stepped forward again and continued to press for answers:

"Now you have reached the top of the world sports arena and are known as the number one person in the world sports arena."

Will they continue to strive for even higher records in the future?

The performance of each team in this tournament varied significantly, sparking ongoing public debate. What are your thoughts on this phenomenon?

Yan Jiefang's expression was solemn; he did not look at her.

"Each person can only ask one question. Next!"

Upon hearing Yan Jiefang's words, reporter Lin's face immediately turned ashen.

As an uncrowned queen, no one had ever treated her so perfunctorily before!

I've seen it all today!

Another female reporter, dressed in jeans, immediately spoke up:

"Putting aside all team factors, your fifteen Olympic gold medals are unprecedented and unmatched in the world. Don't you feel even a little bit of personal pride?"

Yan Jiefang's face was full of righteous indignation:

"I am only proud of the progress of sports in our country, and I am not obsessed with personal achievements."

I was simply fortunate to be invited to represent my country and stand on the stage of the competition. All the honors should belong to the team and every single staff member behind the scenes!

After Yan Jiefang finished answering, everyone looked at him, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

Lin Lan was about to speak when a thin female reporter beside her pulled her aside and immediately asked a sharp question:

"The women's volleyball and gymnastics teams have seen a significant decline in performance this year, and basketball is nowhere to be seen. Only your performance stands out from the crowd."

Many people are questioning whether some teams are lax in their training and lack discipline. Do you agree with this assessment?

Yan Jiefang looked straight ahead and answered frankly:

"This statement is too one-sided. The training cycles and the strength of the opponents are different for each project, so it is impossible to make a horizontal comparison. No team is slacking off."

The women's volleyball team, gymnastics team, and other athletes all fought until the very last moment. Losing is a normal part of competition and has nothing to do with attitude.

As an invited athlete, my achievements are entirely due to the support and assistance of the delegation, not solely to my personal talent.

The public should be tolerant of every athlete who strives, and not fixated on temporary wins or losses.

Seeing that the problem was starting to take a turn for the worse, Team Leader Han and several coaches exchanged glances.

Team leader Han slowly stepped forward, and several coaches and staff members gently moved closer, silently forming a protective circle.

"My fellow journalists, you've worked hard."

The team members have just returned home and are exhausted from their journey, so this brief interview concludes here.

The delegation will likely coordinate a time for a focused interview later, and everyone is welcome to attend and communicate at that time.

As soon as they finished speaking, Team Leader Han and Yan Jiefang led the track and field team members away quickly.

Frustrated, the reporters had no choice but to settle for second best and target the women's singles table tennis winner.

They started bombarding her with questions.

Yan Jiefang found his car in the parking lot, said goodbye to Team Leader Han and the others, and drove away.