Chapter 634 - 560: Look at the Awe in Their Eyes

Chapter 634: Chapter 560: Look at the Awe in Their Eyes

Chen Yu was stunned for a full three seconds.

"Don’t be ridiculous!"

’Your coach is right there. Are you just going to pretend he’s invisible?’

Chen Yu glanced at Sanderson. The little old man wore a suppressed expression of shock, looking angry but not daring to speak.

’And even if he didn’t mind—making a painful sacrifice for his student’s future—you’re 33 years old!’

At 33, in the world of track and field, you were truly a veteran.

Alan Johnson was about to argue further, but Chen Yu stopped him with a look.

At this moment, however, Anderson perked up and asked Chen Yu if he had any interest in joining the United States Track and Field Association.

"Chen, I’ve actually been following your training philosophy for a while. You advocate using a lot of scientific equipment to assist the training process, and you’re top-tier when it comes to injury management and conditioning during training."

In the American sports world, who didn’t know that Chen Yu had a gift for training?

The trend of scientific training in the NBA was started by Chen Yu.

And most importantly, it worked.

Even O’Neal learned how to shoot free throws!

Not to mention the glaring examples of Liu Xiang and Bolt.

Before Chen Yu, who the hell knew who Bolt was?

And now, just a few years later, he was shining brightly, his times already approaching the world record.

There were all sorts of new training philosophies every year, but only Chen Yu’s actually produced results.

He now suddenly understood why Chen Yu had been so determined to beat up Graham.

Graham questioning Chen Yu’s use of performance-enhancing drugs was tantamount to negating Chen Yu’s entire training philosophy.

When you mess with someone’s livelihood, getting a couple of kicks is getting off light.

"Sorry, I don’t think I have the energy for that right now." Chen Yu declined with a smile.

Trainers, especially top-tier ones, were not easy to cultivate, and Chen Yu’s capacity to expand his business was limited.

Besides, Chen Yu’s own energy was finite.

Next, Chen Yu was already planning to focus his energy on locking down his business in China.

This venture would determine if Chen Yu could take another step up, from a world-famous team doctor to the next level—becoming capital itself.

It was also Chen Yu’s final gamble in his professional career.

There was no room for error; he could only succeed.

To have Chen Yu go to some Track and Field Association, become a coach, and develop track athletes for the United States? Chen Yu simply didn’t have the energy for that.

Chen Yu had already withdrawn from the Basketball Association and the Football Association.

Otherwise, with his network of connections, getting a position like chairman of the selection committee in the Basketball Association would have been a piece of cake.

Anderson opened his mouth but didn’t dare say anything more.

"Alright, focus on resting. Come find me again tomorrow at this time."

Chen Yu pulled his hands back, patted Johnson’s shoulder, and gave him the instruction.

Johnson nodded slightly, his gaze burning as he looked at Chen Yu.

’When it comes to talent, am I any worse than Liu Xiang?’

’Impossible. I’m also a king in the world of hurdles, a top athlete capable of breaking Olympic records.’

’What Liu Xiang can achieve through training, I can achieve too.’

Therefore, Johnson believed that as long as he trained with Chen Yu, he could definitely improve even more.

Chen Yu just smiled, ignoring Johnson’s intense gaze.

’A person’s fate depends on circumstance.’

’Liu Xiang running into me was a stroke of good fortune for him.’

’Johnson meeting me just as I’m about to shift my business focus... that’s his fate, too.’

’There’s nothing to be done. That’s just reality.’

By the time he and Sun Haiping found Liu Xiang, he had already reached the mixed zone.

He was surrounded by reporters, three circles deep.

Breaking the Olympic record yesterday and the world record today—it was an unprecedented achievement, one that would likely never be matched.

Moreover, he was from China. As a yellow person, he had shattered the dominance of black athletes in track and field.

Just as Liu Xiang himself had said, if he won a gold medal, he could prove something.

Looking at Liu Xiang, who was just a stone’s throw away, Chen Yu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Dr. Chen, let’s go over," Sun Haiping said.

’At a glorious moment like this, I should be there, and Chen Yu even more so.’

"There’s no need."

Chen Yu shook his head with a smile, looking at the radiant Liu Xiang in the crowd. "This moment belongs to him. I’d better not disturb him."

"Besides, I’m not really interested in being in the spotlight."

’Listen to interviews, hear those reporters praise how amazing my training methods are? Is that necessary?’

’My skill doesn’t need any praise from this bunch of reporters.’

Since Chen Yu said that, Sun Haiping felt too embarrassed to go over himself. He just stood with Chen Yu, watching Liu Xiang from a distance.

"Honestly, it really feels like a dream."

Sun Haiping murmured.

Back when he first met Liu Xiang, he was absolutely certain that the boy was a promising talent with limitless potential.

But to see Liu Xiang come this far, step by step, and break the world record... that was something Sun Haiping had never truly imagined.

"Yes, we’ve all had a beautiful dream," Chen Yu nodded, but after a pause, he added, "And without us realizing it, it’s now time to wake up."

When he met Liu Xiang back then, Chen Yu also had a beautiful dream. He wanted to see if a yellow person could shatter preconceived notions and prove something.

That’s why Chen Yu offered to sponsor him for free, and subsequently poured enormous effort and energy into developing Liu Xiang.

Now, seeing Liu Xiang succeed was, for Chen Yu, the fulfillment of a dream in its own right.

But no matter how beautiful a dream is, you eventually have to wake up.

’Now that Liu Xiang has surpassed his goals and broken the world record, it’s time for me to retire with my work accomplished.’

Sun Haiping was taken aback for a moment. He heard the hidden meaning in Chen Yu’s words. After a thought, he said, "Dr. Chen, their success is our success, really. It’s like Xiao He, or Liu Bowen. When I used to watch TV, I’d always wonder why those men, who were so brilliant they knew everything from astronomy to geography, didn’t become emperor themselves and instead chose to assist others."

"Later, I finally understood. The sense of accomplishment from watching someone else succeed is just as great. By the way, Dr. Chen, do you know who Liu Bowen and Xiao He are?"

Chen Yu shook his head.

’But from his tone, it sounds like he’s trying to comfort me?’

Chen Yu didn’t quite get it. ’Why would I need comforting?’

"Well, when we have time, I’ll tell you their stories. They were both incredibly capable people." Sun Haiping wasn’t surprised and continued, "And I really feel like he’s helping me fulfill my own dream!"

"Actually, I used to be a track and field athlete myself."

Sun Haiping’s gaze deepened. "In our era, the training methods were too crude. Our training philosophy was basically ’if it doesn’t kill you, train harder.’ I was just like that, and ended up riddled with injuries at a young age."

"I remember one year, it must have been ’72, the US Athletics Team came to Shanghai for a competition. We gathered the best track and field athletes from all over China to compete. And the result? We didn’t win a single event."

"That’s when I made up my mind. My own career was over, but I didn’t want the next generation of our athletes to be like me. So I tested into a sports academy and became a coach."

"All these years, I’ve trained Chen Yanhao and Tan Chunhua. I paid more attention to them than to my own wife and child. My neighbors would tell my wife that if anything happened with the track team, I’d be gone with one phone call, but if something came up at home, I was never available."

"Sometimes, thinking back, I feel regret. I feel like it wasn’t worth it."

"But today, I feel it was all worth it!"

Sun Haiping’s eyes became incredibly bright. Pointing toward the athletes being interviewed in the mixed zone, he said, "Look at the expressions in their eyes. They can’t believe we could post a time like this. We beat them into submission. Now they can only look up to us, just like how I used to look up to them."

As Sun Haiping spoke, his eyes started to well up.

Chen Yu patted Sun Haiping’s shoulder. Everything was understood without a word.

Just then, Liu Xiang, over in the mixed zone, must have spotted Chen Yu and Sun Haiping. He suddenly pushed through the reporters, vaulted over the barrier, and rushed toward them.

A whole swarm of reporters followed behind him.

"You little..."

Before Chen Yu could finish, Liu Xiang threw his arms around him in a hug.

It wasn’t just him, but Sun Haiping as well.

Liu Xiang just held the two of them tightly, tears streaming down his face.

"Alright, alright, there are so many people here."

Chen Yu chuckled and gently pushed Liu Xiang away.

Liu Xiang wiped his eyes, turned to face the crowd of reporters, and pointed at Chen Yu and Sun Haiping. "Weren’t you all just asking who I’m most grateful to? It’s them. It’s my coach, Sun Haiping, and it’s Dr. Chen, who has poured his heart and soul into training me for the past two years. Without them, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today."

The CLICK-CLICK-CLICK of camera shutters never stopped.

And the next moment, Chen Yu found himself surrounded by reporters.

"Dr. Chen, can you tell us if Alan Johnson’s injury is serious?"

"Dr. Chen, the United States Track and Field Association and the Olympic Organizing Committee have both released statements claiming that all of Graham’s remarks were his own personal actions. What are your thoughts on their statements?"

"Graham gave an interview where he denied slandering you in any way, saying it was all a misunderstanding. What do you have to say about his comments?"

"Olympic Committee President Rogge was interviewed and said he believes in your character, that any slander against you is utterly shameless, and that the Olympics will not tolerate any use of performance-enhancing drugs. He believes Liu Xiang’s result is fair and just. Do you agree with his statement?"

A babble of questions was thrown at him from all sides.

Even Liu Xiang was pushed to the side, completely ignored.

Sun Haiping simply pulled Liu Xiang aside.

When it came to media attention and adoration, even Liu Xiang, who had just broken the world record, was no match for Chen Yu.

In the midst of the reporters, Chen Yu waved his hand.

Instantly, all the reporters fell silent.

His gaze swept through the crowd before he pointed at one of the reporters. "Are you sure Graham’s exact words were that it was a ’misunderstanding’?"

The reporter nodded hastily.

Chen Yu immediately frowned.

’A misunderstanding? To put it bluntly, he just caved and apologized.’

’But you were too quick about it!’

’I was counting on that bastard to stay stubborn for a few more days, maybe get into a war of words with me, bait out all the other people with dirty thoughts, and deal with them all at once.’

’But no, he gets beaten up yesterday and apologizes today. His knees are way too weak.’

When the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the FBI were investigating him before, he was much more defiant than this. He was shouting to the media that he’d been framed, tearfully proclaiming that he was a hero of American track and field who shouldn’t have to suffer such slander.

Chen Yu suddenly felt a little bored.

’This guy really isn’t worth mentioning.’

’It was a waste of effort to even beat him up!’

"Alright." Chen Yu came back to his senses and pointed to Liu Xiang beside them. "Today’s star isn’t me. You can continue."