They promised to win the swimming championship, but what's with this "Grand Slam" thi

Chapter 24 The Future Number One in Asia!
"Now, I declare the 3rd Chinese Swimming Championships officially open!"

Wow! Wow! Wow!
As the leaders of Jinshi City spoke, the athletes and coaches from more than 30 teams in the audience all burst into applause.

The championship was established in 2000 to select the best swimming talent in the country.

The predecessor of this competition was called the China Swimming Competition. The first competition was held in 1952. It was the first national swimming competition after the founding of New China, and it adopted the method of provincial teams registering individuals.

However, with the increasing emphasis on swimming by the nation and various provinces and cities, swimming talents have emerged in every region, leading to the establishment of a ranking system based on each region.

……

"Athletes participating in the 400-meter freestyle this afternoon, please go to check-in with the head coach first!"

"Everyone else, stand by and await inspection!"

"Minors, stay close to Coach Xu!"

After the opening ceremony ended, Zhang Yadong spoke to the athletes from the Zhejiang Provincial Team behind him.

Wu Jin was already standing behind Xu Guoyi, so she didn't need to move, while the other athletes started chatting.

"Director Zhang, will our team, which is competing tomorrow, also be subject to competition testing?"

"It's the team's top female player," Luo Xuejuan asked.

"Yes, the testing for this competition is very strict and in line with international standards. You need to be mentally prepared!"

Zhang Yadong gave Luo Xuejuan a deep look, and Luo Xuejuan felt a chill run down her spine; she knew why.

The "Five Golden Flowers" incident is considered the aftermath of "the biggest doping scandal in modern sports history."

Until last year, the last athlete involved in this incident had just retired; the entire swimming world experienced the most humiliating 10 years, being targeted by foreign countries, especially Japan and South Korea, whose swimming programs were originally inferior to China's.

The swimming association has undergone a complete overhaul, with reforms to the training system and the establishment of an anti-doping agency. This championship symbolizes a fresh start.

In the 90s, China had not yet established an anti-doping system, and with the successful bid for the Olympics, all subsequent domestic competitions were conducted using the highest standards.

"Coach, do you have to be tested every day?"

Wu Jin and several other athletes under the age of 18 followed Xu Guoyi toward the bus back to the hotel.

"Yes, we may be randomly checked every day. You will all need to fill out a questionnaire later, writing down your accommodation address, down to the room number!"

"If I am notified that I need to bring my competition qualification certificate to the designated checkpoint for random inspection within one hour..."

"Including urine, blood, and dried blood spot testing!"

Xu Guoyi gave instructions to Wu Jin and the others.

Wu Jin thought doping tests were done before the competition; she didn't expect them to be so complicated!

It turns out that being an athlete isn't so easy.

"Testing is so annoying!"

Wu Peng, who was sitting down in the car, suddenly shrugged at Wu Jin. He was also a minor, and would only turn 16 in a month.

However, he participated in the Busan Asian Games at the age of 14 last year, winning two gold medals and one silver medal, and breaking the Asian record for the men's 400-meter individual medley. He is currently the top male swimmer in Zhejiang Province.

He used to train with Xu Guoyi, so he could be considered Wu Jin's senior.

"Senior brother, tell me!"

Wu Jin moved closer to Wu Peng. The two were from the same clan and had chatted a few words with each other in the team before.

Athletes who didn't have a competition today have to go back to the Kangfu Road Swimming Pool for pre-competition training; Sun Yang is queuing up to check in because he has a competition this afternoon.

The so-called check-in is when participating athletes report to the check-in area at the designated time before the competition to be assigned to their matches and groups. Athletes who fail to check in on time will generally be disqualified from the competition.

Therefore, this is a necessary procedure for athletes.

"In foreign countries, there are three types of testing: pre-competition, during-competition, and post-competition!"

"The first two are definitely included, but the last one after the competition is usually only for the top three!"

Wu Pengchao said to Wu Jin, "We are currently in the pre-competition phase. Last year in Busan, I was tested more than 70 times before the competition, three times a day..."

"Now, sometimes we're even being asked to get tested!"

Because Wu Peng won three gold medals, according to the rules, he would be required to undergo testing and summons every so often.

Especially those athletes who break records are tested more frequently.

"I actually only found out after I went to Busan that our country's swimmers are being tested the most frequently in the world now!"

"Because we don't have our own internationally certified professional testing center!"

"And then there's... the impact of that incident!"

The incident involving the "Five Golden Flowers" is an indelible stain on Chinese swimming and the history of Chinese sports.

Of course, to some extent, it served as a warning to generations of domestic athletes.

It has to be said that the locals are really something else. As the host country of the Asian Games, they planted listening devices and cameras in the Chinese swimming team. This kind of shady operation is truly unparalleled.

"Sigh, I guess I'm going to be tested to death at this year's World Championships again!"

Wu Jin sighed.

Wu Peng smiled and said, "There's nothing we can do about it. We were caught red-handed."

Even when being beaten, one must stand at attention.

An eternal truth.

Wu Jin shook her head and then remained silent the rest of the way.

The frequent inspections are making everyone unhappy.

In the afternoon, the championship match officially began.

Sun Yang was plagued by bad luck, being assigned to lane 14 in the first heat. He swam a time of 4 minutes and 70 seconds, his third-best 400-meter freestyle time this year, but unfortunately... he was still eliminated.

He finished seventh in his group and 94th overall, failing to qualify for the semifinals. Meanwhile, his determined opponent, Yu Cheng, easily swam a time of 3 minutes 53.91 seconds, finishing first in his group and first overall, securing his place in the semifinals without any doubt.

The difference between the two is indeed significant.

Wu Jin could imagine that when this guy returned to his dorm that night, he wouldn't dare to face her.

The key point is that this guy wasn't selected for the 100m freestyle relay preliminaries either. The two substitutes helped the Zhejiang Provincial Swimming Team secure the final spots in the 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle relay, but their rankings weren't very good, one third and one fourth.

In the relay events, the Shanghai team is far ahead of the competition.

They have several "national team players" in short distances, such as Xu Yanwei and Yang Yu.

"It's the final! It's the final!"

After dinner, Wu Jin and the others who weren't competing gathered together to watch the live broadcast on Tianjin Metropolitan Channel.

The first event of the evening was the men's 400-meter final.

Yu Cheng finished second in the semifinals, while the winner was Zhang Lin, the future world number one in the 800m freestyle and the top player on the national team!
He's only 15 years old!
It can be described as a dark horse.

哪怕到了吴瑾重生之前的2024年，他在09年罗马游泳世锦赛上创造的800米自男子世界纪录7分32秒12，依旧没有人可以破掉。

A record that has stood for 15 years and will continue to stand.

Although this record was aided by sharkskin, a record from the era of fast swimsuits, it will always exist as long as World Swimming Federation recognizes it.

Michael Phelps, the master of sharkskin, has had his record broken!
"Damn, this Beijing team is amazing!"

"Brother Cheng is in trouble!"

"Charge, Makoto!"

Wu Peng and the others were shouting loudly, watching the eight figures chasing each other in the pool.

Yu Cheng and Zhang Lin are in the first tier with an absolute advantage. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the championship will be decided between the two of them, while the Jiangsu Province team, which is in third place, is several meters away from them.

Zhang Lin and Yu Cheng were neck and neck, and Yu Cheng's advantage was gradually shrinking.

Although he was still in first place after 200 meters.

"This Beijing team is absolutely incredible in the later stages!"

"Do you believe it or not!"

Wu Peng, being a professional, said: "He kept his eyes glued to Cheng Ge, waiting for the last 50 meters!"

"Yes, Cheng-ge might not be able to win!"

"I think Cheng-ge should win!"

Wu Jin, the youngest among them, suddenly spoke up, and Wu Peng couldn't help but turn to look at him and say, "Shall we make a bet?"

"Do not hit!"

"I just think that the 400 meters requires a lot of physical strength and experience!"

"Even if this team from the capital has explosive power, their stamina is not as good as Cheng Ge's, not to mention their experience!"

Although Zhang Lin will completely crush Yu Cheng in the future, he is only 15 years old now.

Even 15-year-old Sun Yang wouldn't dare say he's invincible.

Xu Guoyi, who had been listening to the group's discussion, was as if he were seeing Wu Jin for the first time. This guy was only 12 years old, yet he could say such things?!
"That's right, Yu Cheng might not necessarily lose!"

"Believe in a champion's desire to win!"

Xu Guoyi watched Zhang Lin suddenly accelerate on the TV screen; this was the final 50 meters.

Yu Cheng clearly felt the pressure from his younger brother behind him, and was probably gritting his teeth and persevering.

40 meters, 30 meters, 25 meters...

As Zhang Lin drew closer and closer, the 400-meter finish line was within reach.

But Yu Cheng stubbornly refused to let him rush ahead of him, and it could be said that he was giving it his all to move forward.

"Yes!"

When everyone saw Yu Cheng and Zhang Lin reach the finish line at the same time, they finally couldn't help but shout out.

Won!

The advantage of 0.02 seconds.

Yu Cheng had the last laugh; he was the first to touch the finish line.

"Old ginger is spicier!"

Wu Peng sighed and shook his head. Xu Guoyi patted him on the shoulder: "It's not that the older players are more experienced, but rather that this team from the capital is too young. It's their first time participating in such a major competition, so they're under pressure!"

"Even if he has participated in a major competition before, he has no chance of losing today!"

"He didn't lose to Yu Cheng, he lost to himself!"

Xu Guoyi watched Zhang Lin, who was panting heavily in the pool and looking at his results.

What a young and vibrant face!

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the title of Asia's number one swimmer in the men's 400m freestyle should change hands after today!
The era that belonged to Yu Cheng ended before it even began.

That's the harsh reality of swimming.

You never know when a prodigy might emerge from among the young players.

Even if you stand at the top, you will face threats at any time. Right now, Yu Cheng is crowned the number one in Asia, but his championship may be his last one with real value.

As a coach, Xu Guoyi is actually very clear about this generational shift in the swimming world.

And that is the significance of the championship.

Discover the extraordinary talents of the younger generation in China!
(End of this chapter)