Grabbing the Headlines

In the hotel's buffet restaurant, Director Luo, the team leader, walked over with a plate of food and sat down next to Zhang Guan, saying, "How are you feeling? Getting used to everything?"

"Not bad. Japanese food is quite bland, but it goes down much easier than Western food," Zhang Guan replied.

"Good. Do your best in tomorrow's race, but don't put too much pressure on yourself," Director Luo encouraged Zhang Guan before turning to leave.

"Director Luo doesn't look very happy. What's going on?" Zhang Guan quietly asked Coach Yu, who was sitting across the table.

"He's worried about organizing the International Athletics Golden Grand Prix. I haven't mentioned it to you yet, but our country is planning to host an international athletics series next year, modeled after the IAAF Golden League, to be held annually. The tentative name is the International Athletics Golden Grand Prix. The association has already applied to the IAAF, but it seems to be stuck recently," Coach Yu leaned forward and continued, "I heard it's held up by a high-ranking IAAF official, someone named Sebastian."

"That name sounds familiar. Is he British?" Zhang Guan asked immediately.

"Yes, he is British. He was an athlete in his youth and even held a world record," Coach Yu replied.

"Athletics? Middle-distance running?" Zhang Guan continued to ask.

Coach Yu nodded, "Yes, it's athletics; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten into the IAAF. As for the specific event, I don't know."

"Then it must be him!" Zhang Guan realized. If his guess was right, this Sebastian was the future chairman of the London Olympic Committee and the next IAAF president.

Zhang Guan didn't have a good impression of this Sebastian. He vividly remembered the actions of the British during the London Olympics: the gymnastics event where China was robbed of a gold medal, accusations of match-fixing in badminton, penalties for valid serves in table tennis, the rejection of a cycling gold medal, and even the Chinese flag being placed lower during award ceremonies. Such incidents were countless. At that time, it was clear that the British Olympic Committee didn't want China to win too many gold medals.

...

The Star Invitational does not have preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds like the Olympics. For the 100m event, for example, the organizers invited five international athletes and three Japanese athletes, making up a full track of eight. One shot would decide the winner. Even though there are many small events in athletics, the entire schedule could be completed in one day.

The Yokohama International Stadium was also quite large, with a capacity of over 40,000, and it was packed to the brim.

Japan has a strong sports culture, starting their sports programs with young children. For the sprint events in athletics, for instance, kindergartens hold multiple sprint and relay races every year. In the eyes of ordinary Japanese people, it is highly encouraged for children to engage in sports activities, and they do not worry that sports will negatively affect academic performance.

Of course, today's full house had another reason: the Japanese team had just won another Olympic gold medal!

Although the Olympics were over, the competition for Olympic gold was not. Recently, the International Olympic Committee announced that the Hungarian hammer throw champion at the Athens Olympics, Annus, was stripped of his gold medal for doping, and the Japanese hammer thrower, Koji Murofushi, was the replacement. So Japan decided to use the IAAF All-Star Meet as an opportunity to hold a medal ceremony for Koji Murofushi, attracting many Japanese fans to Yokohama to witness Murofushi receiving his Olympic gold medal.

The medal ceremony for Koji Murofushi was scheduled after the 110m hurdles event, where Liu Feiren (Flying Liu) once again defeated the American hurdler Allen Johnson, winning the championship with a time of 13.08 seconds. This was quite a good time for Liu Feiren, considering he had not undergone systematic training since the Olympics and was not in peak condition. Running 13.08 seconds demonstrated his tremendous strength.

After the award ceremony, the men's 100m sprint was up next. The 100m sprint is always the highlight of athletics competitions, so it was scheduled as the final event.

Zhang Guan was still preparing in the resting area when a young man walked over, looking embarrassed as he said, "Zhang Guan, can I take a photo with you?"

Zhang Guan recognized the person as a journalist who had traveled with the team, though he did not know him personally. Since he was part of their team, Zhang Guan readily agreed to the photo request.

The journalist looked pleased and introduced himself, "My name is Yang Zhongyi, a journalist traveling with the team. I was at the scene when you broke the Asian record in the Philippines last year. You're about to go on now; good luck!"

"Thank you," Zhang Guan smiled at Yang Zhongyi.

This journalist, Yang Zhongyi, had witnessed Zhang Guan break the Asian record in Manila last year. He had not qualified to go to the Olympics, but he was fortunate to get an opportunity to cover the Yokohama All-Star Meet this time.

At that moment, the Japanese national anthem started playing in the stadium.

Yang Zhongyi frowned and then sighed.

"Why are you sighing?" Zhang Guan asked casually.

"They're awarding Koji Murofushi his medal out there!" Yang Zhongyi said with a hint of bitterness.

"A medal re-awarding ceremony? Is it the Japanese awarding it or the IOC?" Zhang Guan asked.

"The IOC," Yang Zhongyi explained the situation to Zhang Guan and then added, "The Japanese are smart, choosing such a special occasion. The media coverage of Liu Feiren defeating Allen Johnson earlier might not get much attention now."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Guan asked.

"Originally, the reporters were here to cover the Yokohama All-Star Meet, with many sports stars in attendance. Tomorrow's sports headlines would likely have covered the event results. But with the Japanese pulling this stunt, it might not be so certain anymore. Doping scandals always grab the most attention, and since this involves an Olympic champion, the Japanese can easily overshadow the athletics all-star meet with a bit of public relations effort, maybe even making it to the top headlines of tomorrow's sports news."

"Really?" Zhang Guan suddenly recalled the Japanese reporter's persistent doping questions during the interview and thought angrily, "Well, I'll just grab a headline myself then!"

...

In the press area, American journalist Duke was brainstorming his news article.

"A Hungarian hammer throw Olympic champion caught doping. This is the first doping scandal after the Olympics! The audience loves this kind of story. It looks like tomorrow's sports headlines are set. As for the Japanese replacement champion, I'll mention it briefly, thanks to the little gifts from the Japanese organizers," Duke thought to himself while drafting an outline on paper.

As for the IAAF All-Star Meet, Duke had already pushed it to the back of his mind. Allen Johnson had lost to Liu Feiren again, and in the upcoming 100m race, the U.S. team might not win. Reporting on a race where the U.S. team did not win, and which was only an invitational meet, seemed less appealing than focusing on the doping scandal in the hammer throw.

Duke looked up at the athletes preparing on the track. Justin Gatlin and Maurice Greene from the U.S. team were both there.

Additionally, there were the European champion, the Portuguese athlete Obikwelu, world champion Kim Collins, and three Japanese athletes. Of course, the world's fastest man, Zhang Guan, was also present.

"I wonder what kind of shape the Chinese athlete is in. I heard Maurice Greene has been gearing up for a showdown with Zhang Guan," Duke thought to himself.

...

The 100m sprint showdown was about to start.

On the track, Zhang Guan glanced around. He recognized the four black athletes. Among the three Japanese athletes, he knew Nobuharu Asahara and Shingo Suetsugu. The other Japanese star, Shingo Suetsugu, wasn't here. Instead, he was replaced by Naoki Tsukahara, a young athlete nearing 19.

Naoki Tsukahara was a rising star in Japanese sprinting. Despite being called a young star, he was actually a year older than Zhang Guan. Notably, Tsukahara stood at 185 cm and weighed over 70 kg, which was rare for a Japanese person. Therefore, the Japanese called him the most physically resembling a black athlete among Japanese sprinters.

The crowd in the stadium was still talking about the medal ceremony for Koji Murofushi until the eight athletes on the track were ready, causing the audience to quiet down.

Zhang Guan placed his feet on the starting blocks, and at the same time, in the system, he consumed a status potion and a stamina potion to fully restore his condition and stamina. He then settled into position, ready to start.

To Zhang Guan's right was the Japanese veteran Nobuharu Asahara. Asahara was deeply moved at this moment. A year ago, in Manila, he competed alongside Zhang Guan. Today, although they were again on the same track, Zhang Guan's strength had become unreachable for him.

To Zhang Guan's left was the American, Justin Gatlin.

Gatlin had won a silver medal in the 100m at the Olympics and a bronze in the 200m, which was a decent achievement, but he was not satisfied. He wanted better results and aimed to break the world record, but Gatlin knew he first had to defeat this Chinese athlete beside him.

Since the Athens Olympics, Gatlin had been in the best form of his career. He was the only athlete capable of contending with the Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell in 2005 and 2006, and Gatlin had even won more titles in their head-to-head battles.

As for Maurice Greene, standing further down the track, he was here specifically to challenge Zhang Guan.

After the Olympics, athletes generally enter a relaxation phase, but Greene had continued training with the goal of defeating Zhang Guan in their next encounter!

...

The eight athletes stood on the track, holding their breath, waiting for the starter's gun.

Finally, the starter's gun fired, and the highly anticipated 100m sprint began.

The athletes had a smooth start, and next came the moment for full-throttle running.

Because Zhang Guan was his opponent, Greene went all out from the start, determined to beat Zhang Guan.

Because Zhang Guan was his opponent, Gatlin also gave it his all from the beginning, hoping to defeat Zhang Guan.

Because Zhang Guan was his opponent, Obikwelu put in his maximum effort right from the start, aiming to defeat Zhang Guan.

Since Zhang Guan, Gatlin, Greene, and Obikwelu were all competitors, Kim Collins also went all out from the start to avoid the embarrassment of being left far behind.

Zhang Guan, intent on stealing the headline from the Japanese, went all out from the beginning.

Although this was not the Olympic final, the world's top sprinters treated this race as if it were an Olympic final.

Consequently, the three Japanese athletes faced a tragic outcome.