The Unbreakable 400-Meter Record

Kōhei Shinji gazed at the final results with a bitter expression. Initially, he was full of confidence, ready to defeat Zhang Guan and become a hero in Japan. However, within just five or six seconds of the race, his hopes completely evaporated. Even on the bend, Zhang Guan's speed was something Kōhei Shinji couldn't keep up with, let alone on the straight where Zhang Guan was even stronger.

19.98 seconds, a new Asian record—this was a time that Kōhei Shinji could never hope to reach in his lifetime. He recalled how he was left behind during the race and suddenly felt a deep sense of injustice.

"With such incredible speed and such a vast gap, how could I possibly beat him?"

In the end, Kōhei Shinji finished with a time of 20.78 seconds, which is considered quite good in Asia and just shy of meeting the B standard for the Olympics. Unfortunately, this achievement seemed dim and insignificant next to Zhang Guan's new Asian record.

As for Yang Yao, he was also taken aback by Zhang Guan's speed during the race. However, he quickly felt relieved because he knew that winning the 200 meters was no longer an option. Thus, he relaxed for the remainder of the race and eventually secured third place with a time of 21.34 seconds.

Meanwhile, Zhang Guan was surrounded by media reporters.

"Congratulations, Zhang Guan, on a perfect debut in the 200 meters! How do you feel now?" a female reporter from China Central Television was the first to ask.

"Pretty good. The main goal this time was to get accustomed to the rhythm of a 200-meter race," Zhang Guan replied.

"It seemed like you were holding back a bit. Could you run even faster?" asked a reporter from Macau, whose Mandarin was not very standard but understandable.

Zhang Guan nodded, "Running faster is definitely possible. I'm a world champion; an Asian record alone cannot satisfy me."

"Is your goal to break the world record?" another reporter from Hong Kong asked with an exaggerated expression.

"Certainly in the future!" Zhang Guan responded confidently. "As an athlete, one should always strive for higher, faster, and stronger performances, aiming for greater challenges. So, if the opportunity arises, I will definitely challenge the world record in the 200 meters."

"Wow..." The reporters collectively gasped, clearly excited as this was the kind of answer they were hoping for.

Interviewing domestic athletes is usually quite dull, as many responses have become standardized: thanking the country, parents, coaches, and so on. It's all a set routine. Reporters, however, prefer athletes who say something bold.

For example, if an NBA player scores high in a game and says they want to surpass Kobe's 81 points, even though it might seem like an exaggeration, it at least shows a commendable fighting spirit and gives the media something exciting to report on.

"Zhang Guan, we know you have a 400-meter race tomorrow, also your debut in that event. Are you confident you can win the 400 meters too?" another reporter asked.

"As an athlete, you can lose everything, but you must never lose confidence in yourself. I face every race with the determination to win!" Zhang Guan answered succinctly, which sounded like a motivational speech to the surrounding reporters.

...

An Asian record in the 200 meters is inspiring but not earth-shattering. Over the past year, Zhang Guan has won more than a dozen world championships and set several world records. For the public, Zhang Guan winning has become expected. Although this was in the 200 meters, it felt more like a finishing touch rather than something truly thrilling.

While reporters were swarming Zhang Guan, the Japanese team's coaches, Kobayashi Keikazu and Takano Jin, had already left the scene.

"Takano-kun, you're the most knowledgeable about the 400 meters. Based on the 200-meter race, what do you think of Zhang Guan's potential in the 400 meters?" Kobayashi Keikazu asked.

"Coach, I observed Zhang Guan's performance on the bend. Technically, he was very average, just meeting the standard. I didn't see any extraordinary technical skills, which is not in line with his status as the world record holder in the 100 meters," Takano Jin replied truthfully.

"You're right, and it's clear that Zhang Guan didn't even push himself to the limit. Despite that, his speed on the bend is comparable to top-tier black athletes from Europe and America. His speed advantage is too significant, especially in Asia. The 0.5-second lead he has in the 100 meters is insurmountable in the 200 meters," Kobayashi Keikazu remarked.

"But the 400 meters is different," Takano Jin continued. "Coach, the 400 meters requires a lot of technique; speed alone isn't enough. Based on Zhang Guan's current technical performance, he's only a competent 400-meter runner, far from being exceptional. There are several competent 400-meter runners like him in every high school athletics club in Japan."

"Are you saying Zhang Guan's 400-meter level isn't good?" Kobayashi Keikazu perked up.

"Technically, that's correct. The challenge in the 400 meters is in rhythm and stamina management, which many athletes take over six months to master. The athlete's suitable rhythm directly affects their running style in the race," Takano Jin said, then added, "But we don't yet know what running style Zhang Guan will adopt in the 400 meters."

"The Chinese still use the traditional Asian running style. I assume Zhang Guan will use the same. Our athlete, Kanemaru Yuji, has started using the European and American style, and Sato Mitsuhiro, although sticking to the traditional style, has advanced his acceleration point considerably, which gives an advantage even with the traditional style. Hopefully, Kanemaru-kun and Sato-kun can run under 46 seconds tomorrow!" Kobayashi Keikazu commented.

Among the Japanese runners, Kanemaru Yuji had achieved his personal best of 45.86 seconds this year, and the older Sato Mitsuhiro had clocked 45.63 seconds last year. While these times don't meet the Olympic A standard, they are top-tier performances in Asia.

"Coach, if Kanemaru-kun and Sato-kun perform normally, they should run around 46.10 seconds. To break 46 seconds, they'll need to perform exceptionally well," Takano Jin stated honestly.

"Regardless, we must give it our all tomorrow! China has consistently outperformed us in women's events, throwing events, and walking events. In men's short events like the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 110 meters hurdles, the Chinese have already surpassed us. The only advantage we have left is in the 400 meters. We must maintain our lead in the 400 meters no matter what!"

...

"Welcome to our special East Asian Games program. Today, we have Professor Li Jianguo from Capital Sports University as our special guest," the host turned to a man in his fifties and began, "Hello, Professor Li."

"Hello to you, the host, and to all our viewers!" Professor Li greeted with a smile.

"The East Asian Games are in full swing, and our athletes have achieved excellent results, currently leading the gold and medal tallies by a significant margin. Among today's competitions, the most attention-grabbing was Zhang Guan's debut in the 200 meters! With a time of 19.98 seconds, he broke the previous Asian record of 20.03 seconds held by Japanese athlete Shingo Suetsugu. Let's look back at the moment when Zhang Guan set the new Asian record in the 200 meters earlier today!"

The TV replayed Zhang Guan's race in full. The host then asked, "Professor Li, Zhang Guan's performance today was near perfect. Do you think Zhang Guan has room for improvement in the future?"

"Improvement is certain!" Professor Li smiled and replied, "Zhang Guan's dominance in the 100 meters is evident to all. His breaking the Asian record today was something I expected. I believe that breaking the 200-meter world record is just a matter of time for Zhang Guan."

Clearly, Professor Li was a big fan of Zhang Guan. This type of program naturally wouldn't feature critics as guests; even when talking about other champion athletes, Professor Li would be just as supportive.

"Tomorrow's competition is highly anticipated, with Zhang Guan set to compete in the 400 meters, also his debut in that event. Everyone is looking forward to Zhang Guan's performance tomorrow," the host continued with a close-up shot, then asked, "Professor Li, do you think Zhang Guan can win the 400-meter title tomorrow, or perhaps even break another Asian record?"

"The possibility of winning the 400 meters is very high, but breaking the Asian record in the 400 meters may be more challenging. The current Asian record for the 400 meters is 44.56 seconds, set by Omani athlete Malik in 1997, and it has stood for 17 years without being broken! Achieving a sub-45-second time already places an athlete among the world's elite 400-meter runners. Achieving under 44.50 seconds is difficult even for top athletes. According to last year's Athens Olympics, only the top three in the final ran under 44.50 seconds, with the fourth-place time being 44.66 seconds. Thus, the current Asian record time is good enough to rank fourth at the Olympics."

"So what is the actual world record for the 400 meters?" the host asked next.

Professor Li promptly responded, "43.18 seconds, set by the American legend Michael Johnson in 1999. This world record was once dubbed the 'Record of the 21st Century,' believed to be unbreakable even in the 21st century. Based on the current situation, this record will likely remain unchallenged for at least the next 50 years!"