"When I see him smile, why do I feel so uneasy?"
"He can smile, just not at us."
Du Hua’s progress over the past six months hasn’t been significant either. His specialty is the men’s 110-meter hurdles. A year ago, his time was 16.80 seconds. That was a hand-timed score, which didn’t even meet the national second-level athlete standard.
Now, a year later, his best time is 14.87 seconds. Although he surpassed the second-level standard, he is still some distance away from the first level...
The key issue is, he will turn 20 this year. Next year, when he turns 21, the hurdles won’t be the youth group height of 0.99 meters but the adult group height of 1.067 meters.
At that time, the difficulty will increase considerably. Not only might he need to change the number of steps between hurdles, but many technical moves might also need to change.
This is the most challenging time for Du Hua. That’s why he’s been making tremendous efforts over the past six months, trying to improve his results even a little bit.
That’s also why he’s been under such immense pressure lately.
He took a long breath and said with a wry smile,
"None of us are improving our performances. How can the coach still smile? We don’t deserve it!"
A single sentence made Liu Xiaohu and the others extremely ashamed, leaving them momentarily speechless.
Indeed, it makes sense. How can you expect others to smile at you if you’re not showing any promise?
On what grounds?
While everyone was silent, on the other side, Chen Lei and others had finished talking with Coach Yin and turned to walk towards the group of students.
As soon as Liu Xiaohu and the others saw them, they quickly stood up straight, and each forced a smile onto their face.
These were their senior brothers and sisters, their idols. Even an awkward smile was better than a sullen face.
"Why do you all look like you’re forcing smiles, like you’re about to cry?"
Chen Lei was professional when it came to conversation. She had been a leader at the provincial sports center for many years, and this wasn’t her first time leading a team. This kind of situation was all too common for her.
With a warm smile on her face, she said calmly,
"Is everyone feeling down because the training is so tough and yet the results aren’t showing, leaving you all a bit disheartened?
To be honest, I understand your feelings very well since I’ve come through a student era just like you have. I’ve been through what you’re experiencing!
But I’ve also been through what you haven’t experienced!
So, I can responsibly tell you that when a few or even several years have passed and if you have the ability to stand on the world’s highest podium like I have, you will look back.
At that time, you will realize how childish and ridiculous today’s unhappiness, disheartenment, and negative feelings were!
I came here today to tell you one thing:
All negative energy is just a stumbling block on your road to success. What you need to do is to step on them and crush them, then move forward!
Nothing can stop your steps forward. If anything does, it only proves you’re not working hard enough!"
After she finished speaking, the training field fell silent.
After a while, someone started clapping, "clap, clap." At first, it was one person, then two or three people joined in, and finally, everyone broke into enthusiastic applause.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
The resounding applause instantly filled the stadium, inspiring the hearts of the young people.
"Senior Sister Chen’s words are very right. When you succeed, all the previous setbacks are just sharpening stones that make you stronger!"
After the applause died down, Coach Yin came forward again. He scanned the faces of the excited students and said loudly,
"In the coming period, Chen Lei, Lin Yahu, and Wang Dongkai, these senior brothers and sisters, will conduct one-on-one training with you. This is a rare opportunity, and I hope everyone will put in the effort and train hard!
Additionally, I have another announcement!
The top three performers with the best training and most significant improvement each day will receive a special nutritional meal provided by Senior Sister Chen and the others!
This nutritional meal is not randomly prepared. It is made by Jiang Yu at the Seventh Dining Hall personally.
I’ve always known that you all crave the food from the Seventh Dining Hall, but I didn’t let you eat it before because I was worried you’d consume too much fat and energy and gain weight.
But the nutritional meal designed by Senior Sister Chen and the others is different. Plus, it’s made by Jiang Yu himself. Whether you can eat it depends entirely on how hard you work!"