Chapter 51: National Team Tryouts

From Pengcheng to the capital city.

The flight took just over three hours.

The journey was smooth and arrived on time.

At Terminal 2 of the capital’s airport, an assistant coach came to meet the coach and two sprinters from Pengcheng.

They headed directly for the National Sports Administration’s training center.

It would have been quickest to take the Third Ring Road from the airport to the training center, but upon hearing that this was Rousseau’s first visit to the capital, the assistant coach, Dong Zijian, instructed the driver to take the Fifth Ring Road instead, passing through the construction zone of the Olympic venues on the North Fourth Ring.

It was Rousseau’s first time in the nation’s capital, and he felt... well, as if he’d arrived at a gigantic construction site. Especially when they approached the rising National Stadium, everywhere he looked there were machines and workers, bustling with energy. The autumn sun shone upon the laborers, suffusing the scene with a lively, vigorous spirit.

“Is this the Olympic venue?” Tian Shiwei asked Dong Zijian.

Rousseau had also noticed the slogans painted on the construction fences by the roadside: “Work hard for a hundred days, dedicate to the Olympics,” and “Ensure quality for our Olympics,” among others.

“Yes, this area and that side will have two major stadiums. Further north, there will be an indoor sports center. The opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics will be held right here,” the assistant coach replied with a smile, telling the driver to slow down so the two young men could take it all in.

“If you both represent the nation, the finals for the sprint events will be held right here,” added Lu Jinrong.

Rousseau gazed through the window at the uniquely shaped arenas. The autumn light gilded their unfinished contours with a sacred glow. In four years, these grounds would host the world’s most illustrious stage for athletics. Will I be able to stand upon it?

...

Upon arriving at the training center, Dong Zijian led the group to their accommodations for some rest. It was midday; after lunch, they would take the entry tests.

Having eaten airplane food, none of them were very hungry. They sampled the training center cafeteria fare and found it no better than Pengcheng’s. In fact, there was far less seafood. Clearly, Pengcheng’s sports school cafeteria was the gold standard in the country.

After lunch, they returned to the rooms arranged by Dong Zijian. Lu Jinrong advised the two athletes to take a break, relax, and not let nerves get the better of them—just perform as usual in the test.

On the drive from the airport, Lu Jinrong had already gathered some information from Dong Zijian. In recent days, a few athletes from other provinces had come for trials, but none met the standards.

Four months prior, the national team had scouted the entire country for athletes aged fourteen to eighteen who fit the criteria.

Those who qualified were already part of the team; those who didn’t wouldn’t have made enough progress in four months. Cases like Tian Shiwei’s sudden breakthrough, or Rousseau emerging as a dark horse, were exceedingly rare—no province could produce such talent all the time.

Therefore, as long as Rousseau and Tian Shiwei performed at their usual level, the test should pose no problem.

They nodded and went off to rest.

...

In the office of the head coach.

Li Yan was reviewing the profiles of Tian Shiwei and Rousseau.

“Tian Shiwei, Pengcheng sprint team athlete, eighteen years old. 100 meters: 10.50 seconds. 200 meters: 21.45 seconds.”

A rather outstanding young sprinter.

The only curious point was that before the Southern Guangdong Provincial Games, Tian Shiwei’s official 100m time was around 10.75 seconds, but at the games, he suddenly improved to 10.50.

That was interesting. If he’d run that time during the youth team selection for the Eastern Youth Games, he would already be on the national team.

“Rousseau, Pengcheng sprint team athlete, eighteen years old. 100 meters: 10.49 seconds (new provincial record for Southern Guangdong). No official 200m or 400m times.”

“No official times” meant he hadn’t competed in those events, so there were no recognized results.

What caught Li Yan’s attention more was that Rousseau had only joined the Pengcheng team in July, meaning just two months of professional training had brought him to a 10.49 finish, which was intriguing.

As for the provincial record, Li Yan didn’t dwell on it. Many of the youths in his squad were already capable of breaking records, and his senior team, led by Pan Kai, was on par with the world’s best.

At that moment, Dong Zijian knocked and entered. “Coach, the Pengcheng team coach and athletes are all at the training ground.”

Good. Li Yan nodded, gathered the files, and stood up.

...

“Don’t be nervous,” Lu Jinrong reminded his two prized disciples yet again.

In Pengcheng, Lu Jinrong’s management style was iron-fisted, though not without compassion. Away from home, however, only the gentler side showed; his repeated reminders made it clear that he, not the athletes, was the most anxious.

“The trial isn’t your problem. What you’ll face after joining is much tougher,” Lu Jinrong said. “So don’t be nervous.”

“Coach, I think you’re the nervous one,” Tian Shiwei joked.

Had they been back with the Pengcheng team, such cheek would have earned him a kick, but here, Lu Jinrong just glared at him.

“They’re coming,” Rousseau said, spotting two people approaching the track.

One wore a suit; the other was Dong Zijian.

The one in the suit was none other than Li Yan, head coach of the national sprint team—the very man rumored to drive athletes to see psychiatrists.

Before coming to the capital, Lu Jinrong had briefed Rousseau and Tian Shiwei on this coach’s style, including stories of athletes pushed to the brink of quitting or needing therapy.

The two young men, however, had the fearless confidence of youth. As long as they could make the team, they didn’t believe anyone could force them out.

As they came closer, Dong Zijian introduced the coaches to one another.

The two shook hands. Lu Jinrong couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy—Li Yan was at least five years his junior and already led the national team, having coached Pan Kai to a Universiade gold medal...

“Give it your all,” Lu Jinrong told Rousseau and Tian Shiwei.

...

First, the 100m trial.

They ran their best, but Rousseau and Tian Shiwei clocked 10.63 and 10.60 seconds respectively—short of the Eastern Youth Games selection standard.

Li Yan stood at the finish, shook his head at the times, and made some notes in his book.

...

“Let’s try the 200 meters,” Dong Zijian ran over to say. “Rest for a bit and get ready. This time, give it your best.”

Rousseau and Tian Shiwei exchanged glances, each seeing the anxiety in the other’s eyes.

It seemed the national coaches weren’t impressed.

If they’d come all the way to the capital only to be sent home, it would be a major embarrassment. They had brought all their luggage, said long goodbyes to family and friends for a month—returning the very next day would be too humiliating.