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

Chapter 50: Departure, National Team!

"Auntie!"

Wu Jin stood at the entrance of the provincial swimming team, waving to a stylish urban woman.

Xu Wanjun!
This is Wu Jin's aunt's name. She is four years younger than Xu Wanqin and just over 30. However, she looks much better at taking care of herself than her mother. In her previous life, Wu Jin's job was also found by her.

"You look like you've lost weight again!"

Xu Wanjun patted Wu Jin's head; in her past life, this aunt had been the kindest to him.

She bought him a house and treated him like her own son. Deep down, she has a bit of a preference for sons over daughters. Although she is also very good to her daughter, it is not very common for her to buy a house for her nephew to get married.

The main reason is that she is indeed capable of making money and is not the kind of woman who depends on her husband; of course, Wu Jin's uncle is even more capable. He started a business with his aunt and made the current factory very large. Twenty years later, they opened several branch factories in Southeast Asia.

"Actually, I gained a few pounds, but my body fat decreased, so I look slimmer now!"

"Didn't you notice my arms are a bit thicker than before?"

Wu Jin flexed her muscles, acting a bit disrespectful to Xu Wanjun, because Xu Wanjun had a great personality and got along well with the children.

"Haha, you could say that!"

Xu Wanjun pinched Wu Jin's arm, while Xu Wanqin said from the side, "You still need to eat more. I see many 13 or 4-year-old swimmers abroad who are almost like adults!"

"White people are different; they develop earlier!"

"Eating any more will affect your grades!"

Wu Jin casually remarked as she led the two people into the provincial swimming team.

Instead of going directly to the project management department, the three of them went to a pavilion downstairs in the dormitory building.

"Yu Yu, your uncle and I have been asking around with relevant people these past few days!"

"Your athletes' contracts are indeed quite complicated, and they vary from province to province!"

Xu Wanjun sat there, speaking of business with the air of a strong woman: "However, the economy of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai is relatively good, especially Shanghai, which is the most relaxed. It's like Yao Ming, the basketball player, who is a model of joint development with local governments!"

"It's different. Yao Ming went to play in the NBA, so he had to follow the commercial development route. I'm a swimmer within the system..."

"Actually, they're the same!"

Xu Wanjun smiled and said, "It still depends on the results, and also on whether your swimming team has enough money!"

“Zhejiang Province shouldn’t have this problem, unlike some provinces where athletes have to hand over 20% of their training income to the swimming team and have 20% of their personal income deducted. If it’s split in half, they can only get 10%. But some places have the oldest 333 policy, which means athletes can only get one-third!”

"Based on this calculation, it's probably less than 5%!"

"In fact, the state provides subsidies to athletes and provincial teams. The contracts signed by athletes also include some funds from the development fund for coaches and local units!"

"If the local government demands another 20%, how can the athletes not protest?"

Xu Wanjun truly lives up to her reputation as Wu Jin's aunt; her investigation was remarkably thorough.

Wu Jin only knew that Shanghai was indeed good to athletes, whether it was Yao Ming, Liu Xiang, the sprinter, or the future swimming team and table tennis player Fan Zhendong, all of whom had very successful commercial development models.

"Let's go!"

"Your worries are probably unfounded. The Zhejiang Provincial Swimming Team has always been among the top teams in the country. The provincial team isn't as poor as you imagine, understand?"

Xu Wanjun stood up, feeling that her nephew might have listened to certain people in the team, which was why he was so sensitive about this.

Wu Jin only then realized what was happening.

He might be overthinking things.

His previous life involved sports, and he had been cheated by others, so his mindset as a reborn person made him somewhat sensitive to such matters.

"Listen to your aunt!"

"As long as this contract isn't too outrageous, the most important thing is to sign it and play well in the game!"

"If you achieve something, you'll have everything!"

Xu Wanqin said from the side.

My mother's thinking is indeed too simplistic, but his thoughts are indeed quite profound.

"Okay, let's go sign it then!"

As Wu Jin spoke, the three of them arrived at a small building behind the swimming team's training hall.

The project management department is on the second floor; turn left at the stairwell.

Wu Jin knocked on the door, and a voice immediately came from inside inviting her to come in.

Pushing open the door, Wu Jin saw several familiar figures, whom she often encountered during lunchtime.

"Looking for Director Li?"

A young girl knew Wu Jin and knew that he had won a championship at a young age. She often gossiped about athletes in the office and in private.

She pointed inside, and Wu Jin saw a woman wearing glasses, about 40 years old, sitting at a desk that looked quite different from the others. She immediately smiled when she saw Wu Jin.

"Here you are, Wu Jin!"

"Are Mom and Dad here?"

"They're here, but it's my mom and my aunt who's here. It just so happens that my aunt lives in Hangzhou!"

Wu Jin followed the script that Xu Wanjun had taught him.

"Then please invite them in!"

Li Dan stood up on her own initiative, Wu Jin hurriedly went out, and then Xu Wanqin and Xu Wanjun entered the office.

He also greeted everyone else in the office.

"Director Li!"

The two people greeted him with smiles, and Li Dan immediately had tea made. The four of them then sat down.

"Wu Jin probably doesn't know why you've been called here!"

"That's right, he's going to the national team soon. According to the practice of our provincial team, he needs to sign a commercial development agreement with the athlete, which is the athlete's future income!"

Li Dan spoke very frankly, and Xu Wanjun and the other woman both laughed.

"We invited you here just to sign some papers; Wu Jin is, after all, a minor!"

"quickly!"

As she spoke, Li Dan took out a contract that she had prepared in the drawer.

These days, looking at these few thin sheets of paper feels very unprofessional.

After all, the commercial development of domestic athletes is still in its infancy, and everything is in a very primitive state.

It's normal for problems to occur in other provinces as well.

"We formulated our plans in accordance with the provisions of the 'Management Regulations for Athletes Engaging in Commercial Business Activities' promulgated by the state!"

"We will implement whatever the state sets out!"

Li Dan noticed that Xu Wanjun seemed quite "professional" as she explained things, while Xu Wanjun had already taken the "Athlete Commercial Trial Contract" that Li Dan handed to her!
The two sisters watched from there, and Wu Jin pretended to be curious and peeked over as well.

【2001关于运动项目管理中心工作规范化有关问题的通知第五条第三项……分配原则上比例：运动员50%、教练员及其他有功人员15%、全国性单项协会项目发展基金15%、运动员输送单位20%……】

"..."

Wu Jin only saw the most crucial points.

There is also a note below—but this is not a one-size-fits-all approach for all projects and all time periods!
In other words, there is room for negotiation.

This is the 2001 version.

It will definitely need to be revised in a few years, I think it will be next year.

Liu Xiang's commercial value skyrocketed overnight after the Athens Olympics, catching the National Sports Center somewhat off guard.

In the end, it was actually these endorsement contracts that ruined Liu Feiren!

If he doesn't run away, he'll lose a lot of money, and the center will also have to pay out of pocket!

"Director Li, let me say something a bit presumptuous!"

"What if, what if our Yuyu achieves good results at the World Championships or the Olympics in the future? Will this contract need to be revised, or will it continue to be executed as is?" Xu Wanjun looked up. The contract didn't have many words, and she had already read it all.

Moreover, what she asked about was pretty much the same; relatively speaking, things are quite standardized in Zhejiang Province.

有的省份还得扣20%的所谓“培养费”，有的更是沿用早期的1/3-1/3-1/3，也就是运动员只能拿33%，还得上交自己交税。

This is probably what her nephew is worried about.

"Actually, it depends on the athlete's own commercial appeal!"

Do you understand what I mean?

Li Dan knew what Xu Wanjun wanted to ask, and said, "This contract is currently a trial version. We don't know how the government will revise it later!"

"However, if an athlete's commercial value increases, we will apply to the higher authorities for special processing!"

Li Dan's words were quite clear. Xu Wanjun glanced at Wu Jin, then at Xu Wanqin, and smiled, saying, "I'm just here to play the villain. I've asked all the questions for you!"

"Ha ha!"

Li Dan and Xu Wanqin both laughed.

"So...Mom signed it?"

Xu Wanqin looked at Wu Jin, and Li Dan couldn't help but chuckle. This mother is quite nice; she even respects her son's opinion.
"Sign it!"

Wu Jin felt there was no problem. In the next few years, the headache would not be for him, but for the country.

With the rise of the domestic economy and the increasing popularity of sports, the commercialization of athletes like Liu Xiang and several divers is constantly increasing, and relevant regulations need to be revised.

Wu Jin's first athlete contract was signed smoothly very quickly.

"Now you can focus on preparing for the World Championships, right?"

Xu Wanqin spoke to her son in an annoyed tone.

Instead of thinking about the competition, he's preoccupied with these trivial things all day long, which has even disturbed his aunt and uncle.

"Okay, relax and prepare!"

Wu Jin "humbly accepted" her mother's lecture and saw the two of them to the door.

Xu Wanjun said, "Yuyu, can we go out tonight? Your aunt will treat you to dinner!"

"Forget it, I need to train hard and aim for the World Championships!"

Wu Jin glanced at Xu Wanqin, who immediately pinched him: "Speak properly!"

"I'm just telling the truth!"

"Alright then, it seems... I'll have to get together with my champion nephew after the World Championships!"

"Come here, let me give you a hug!"

Xu Wanjun truly loves this nephew. She doted on him even before he won the championship in her previous life. Now that Wu Jin has won the championship, he holds even more weight in Xu Wanjun's heart.

Wu Jin watched the two leave before heading towards her dormitory.

The afternoon training went surprisingly smoothly. Having accomplished a "major life event," Wu Jin had no more worries. All she had left was... the desire for the World Championships three months later.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Today is the day Wu Jin and others report to the national team.

The Zhejiang provincial team sent a total of 10 people to the Barcelona World Championships, making it the province with the most participants in the national team.

It's worth noting that there are only 34 athletes in total who have qualified for the World Championships.

One province accounts for almost a third of the total, making it a major province for swimming.

It was still a bus; in addition to athletes like Wu Jin, three coaches also went.

Zhang Yadong, Zhu Zhigen, and Xu Guoyi!

The other coaches stayed with the provincial team to continue training the trainees.

"Hey Lao Sun, let's go. Train hard, I'll keep an eye on Zhang Lin for you!"

Wu Jin pushed her luggage and other belongings and spoke to Sun Yang, who had come out to see her off. Of course, he had been forced to come out.

The coach euphemistically said that seeing the members of the team who went to the national team would motivate him.

One day, I can also ride the bus to the national team.

Sun Yang was indeed inspired.

"Get lost, I'll be back next year!"

Sun Yang was speaking there, clearly annoyed.

"Haha, so confident?"

Joining the national team next year, which means going to participate in the Athens Olympics, this kid... has quite the ambition.

It seems he wasn't selected for Athens in his previous life; the Beijing Olympics was his first Olympics!

I wonder if he'll become enlightened earlier in this life.

However, this kid has been training really hard these days. Wu Jin doesn't know how much he trained at that age in his previous life, but in this life, his training volume is no less than Wu Jin's.

Wu Jin is actually 9 months older than him!
Wu Jin certainly tried her best, but... it seems there was a problem.

跟前段时间50米自的成绩飞快提升不同的是，他除了那一天游了个22秒33的亚洲纪录后，这些天别说22秒40，22秒45都很费劲。

These results came about a few days ago.

This morning, he put in all his effort, using all his system skills, but still only managed a time of 22.50 seconds!

This is definitely not right.

The results fluctuated a few days ago, but Xu Guoyi didn't take it too seriously.

Because these are all normal phenomena.

It regressed by 0.2 seconds, and it's still regressing a little bit every day, which means... it's most likely not a problem with the state.

"Let's talk about it when we get to the national team!"

"It might be due to development..."

"The weight gain during this period has been very effective, but it has definitely affected my performance!"

"Even your height, you've grown 1 centimeter taller than when you arrived!"

Wu Jin has gained 5 pounds in weight.

These are all factors.

Xu Guoyi wasn't quite sure what was going on. It might be due to physical development and weight gain, which affected the coordination of his swimming style. Fortunately, he went to the national team immediately, where there was a team of experienced coaches, growth experts, and the necessary testing equipment.

Zhejiang Province certainly doesn't have such advanced equipment, and the training environment is also poor.

Therefore, Wu Jin's trip to the national team was clearly very necessary.

If the unstable performance is indeed due to developmental issues, then subsequent training strategies and other aspects will need to be modified.

"set off!"

Zhang Yadong counted the number of people and, seeing that everyone had arrived, waved his hand.

The Zhejiang provincial team's bus immediately drove towards the capital.

"..."

A group of provincial team members who were "rejected" and stood at the entrance of the swimming team were clearly making a secret vow that next time... next time they would definitely get on this bus.

Including Sun Yang, who looked visibly annoyed!

This is exactly the effect Zhang Yadong wanted: to plant a seed in the hearts of the players who were not selected, so that they would train hard even when he was not there.

The group on the bus had their own national team experts and World Championship opponents to motivate them.

It has to be said, Old Zhang is indeed a ruthless man!
(End of this chapter)