Chapter 270

Unpredictable (6)

The rollercoaster of emotions.

Dah-dah-dah-dak-.

A week before the opening, Jin Seon-kyu, with his fluctuating mental state, sat on a football field chair, nervously shaking his legs.

‘He’s at it again.’

Jin Hyuk, checking the schedule, narrowed his eyes.

With his wide field of vision, he couldn’t miss it.

‘But after watching for a while, I get it.’

It’s not to warm up but a reaction to anxiety.

It’s a gesture often seen from Jo Seol-chan and Yeom Byeong-taek during their elementary and middle school days.

– “That’s all because you trained just enough.”

That’s what Coach Seo Pil-gu said when he joined late in Atlanta. He had said something similar when he briefly stayed at the athletes’ village.

It wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular.

Just a frustrated complaint about juniors who couldn’t break their own records for a long time.

– “Today, you have to keep killing yesterday’s self, and tomorrow, today’s self. Step on yourself like stairs. Only then will you reach a level where fear disappears. That’s what confidence is. I started track and field at your age, thinking, ‘Damn it! I’ll die doing this! I won’t let anyone stand in front of me!’ But these days, juniors only train enough to not get scolded by the coach. But you can’t force them if they say it’s hard. They’ll just run away.”

Seo Pil-gu was the person Jin Hyuk most agreed with in track and field. Coincidentally, Jin Hyuk was born the year Seo Pil-gu set the Korean record. So, Seo Pil-gu has held the 100-meter Korean record for over 17 years.

– “But I don’t think our athletes are lacking. Tall and strong guys switch to other sports early, so only those under 180 cm remain on the track. It’s a physical limitation, not that our guys are slow.”

He looked like he had lost his country while saying that.

– “It’s not the main issue, but staying complacent at the top domestically is something to fix. There aren’t many with big competition experience. Look at China and Japan; they always send one or two to the World Championships. Gain experience in big competitions, and results will follow. Juniors will follow that example······.”

Seo Pil-gu lamented that he should be saying this to the federation or the media, but only distant juniors listen. While discussing ways to improve basic sports, non-athletes in suits gather and whisper.

– “Who knows if they’re playing Go-Stop or drinking? Looking at the results, it’s like sleep-talking.”

After just one day at the athletes’ village, he regretted not seeing Jin Hyuk’s training and made a promise to show it later.

– “But do you really not have hydraulics in your knees? Are you a Terminator or something?”

A good but slightly strange person.

Why touch someone’s knees and say that?

Hoo-, after blowing away long thoughts with a sigh, reality struck again.

Ho-dal-dal-.

Rustle-rustle-.

The vibration from Jin Seon-kyu’s legs made the schedule in his hand tremble.

‘He’s scared.’

Not to dismiss Jin Seon-kyu’s talent and effort, reaching national level.

The anxiety Jin Seon-kyu feels.

To Jin Hyuk, it’s the insecurity and fear of someone who hasn’t reached the pinnacle, as Seo Pil-gu said. If you dissect Jin Seon-kyu’s muscles fiber by fiber, they’re built from training done just enough under the coach and director’s watch.

‘Still, it’s impressive.’

Paradoxically, it’s amazing to achieve current results with just that level of training.

Korean talent is indeed another class in any field.

People tamed by the system, losing their wildness.

Many talents are buried without a chance to shine, unknown to the world.

Be good, the sharp stone gets polished, be a model student, be a filial son.

‘Senior didn’t get the chance, that’s why.’

A faint sigh escaped in regret.

Five years ago, Hong Ki-jun reshuffled sports leaders, but Jin Seon-kyu, already an adult, might not have benefited, training as he did in high school. Out of habit and inertia.

After two weeks of observation, Jin Seon-kyu warmed up, looking around as if checking reactions. His stretching was habitual but didn’t properly loosen muscles, just mechanical.

‘It’s too late.’

There’s no way to crack that completed athlete’s shell now.

If only we had trained together a year earlier.

“Senior, what’s your best practice record?”

“10 seconds flat.”

Despite his anxious demeanor, the answer was firm and concise.

Jin Hyuk nodded.

Indeed, it seems his great skills don’t show in competitions due to mental issues.

Jin Seon-kyu rustled the group schedule.

“Jin Hyuk, you’re in Group 5, I’m in Group 9.”

“Any notable athletes in your group, Senior?”

“Linford······. Why is he here······.”

Ah, Linford Christie.

A 36-year-old showing veteran prowess. Along with Canada’s Donovan Bailey, last year’s World Championship gold medalist, one of the UK’s top sprinters recently.

‘So that’s why he’s more nervous?’

Even in individual events, the mental game is crucial, and so are the competitors.

Jin Hyuk skimmed the names in Jin Seon-kyu’s Group 9.

Besides Linford Christie, Brazil’s Andre Silva, Cyprus’s······.

‘Zisimides?’

Probably a Greek name. Unfamiliar but definitely heard before.

Jin Seon-kyu pointed at each name.

“This guy······ Benancio Jose?”

“Benancio Jose. A Spanish athlete.”

With Jose, four could be classified as top-level.

Jin Hyuk scratched his cheek with a playful expression.

“Looks doable, huh?”

“Really?”

Jin Seon-kyu brightened at the offhand remark.

Indeed, his emotional change speed is world-class.

“You’re less than a second behind Senior.”

“Ah, come on.”

Well, it’s true.

Dodging a light flick from Jin Seon-kyu, Jin Hyuk returned with a serious expression.

“It’s presumptuous but······.”

“Huh? No! Go ahead! Tell me!”

Wow?

How nervous must he be?

“There’s not much more you can do now. Except fully utilize your abilities. But just doing that, you can pass the preliminaries.”

Jin Seon-kyu nodded with a hum.

“Just passing the preliminaries would make history.”

In a sport where the initial 0.01-second battle becomes a 0.5-second difference later.

The key to mastering the unpredictable turning point is simple.

How easily can you shake off the pressure at the start line?

Many think, ‘Wow! Those athletes aren’t nervous!’ seeing their superhuman start speed, but the accumulated pressure shows in the first 30 meters after a rapid RPM increase.

That’s why even world-class athletes underperform. Accumulated stress holds them back.

In severe cases, muscle cramps or ankle injuries occur in that stretch.

“You need to relax.”

“Easier said than done······.”

This cancer-like mental senior is wobbling like a cephalopod.

As if I’d just watch the tension drop after building it up!

Jin Hyuk stood up abruptly.

‘Play is the best way to relax.’

Raising body temperature, clearing shadows with laughter, the best play for track athletes.

What he often did to relax Jo Seol-chan and Yeom Byeong-taek.

Jumping up, Jin Hyuk moved to a short track in the indoor stadium, calling out to a legend he befriended on the football field.

“Hey! Kaul-!”

*

With men of similar interests and skills gathered, a playground transcending race, nationality, and age unfolded.

Surprisingly, the initiator was Son Jin-hyeok, who usually didn’t like games or bets.

Military men might be familiar with drink bets, but it seemed fresh to these non-servicemen. Jin Hyuk’s proposal for a drink bet long jump got Carl Lewis and US sprinters to respond enthusiastically.

Dah-dah-dak-!

Hoo-!

35-year-old veteran Carl Lewis’s body floated.

Poof-!

“Carl!”

“Whoa!”

“Carl!”

“Puking thirty feet! Yeah-!”

As Jonathan hyped the atmosphere, other athletes waved fists in response.

‘That’s Carl Lewis.’

Jin Hyuk nodded, confirming Carl Lewis’s over 9-meter record.

A few days ago, seeing him enter the football field from afar, he doubted his eyes.

A four-time gold medalist at the 1984 LA Olympics, two-time at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

But realizing this was the US and the training ground for the national team, he felt grateful for Jonathan’s kindness. How many Koreans get to meet, shake hands, laugh, and run with the great Carl Lewis? Probably just two, including Jin Seon-kyu.

He was also grateful to Carl Lewis, who didn’t ignore the foreign newcomers but smiled and offered a handshake first.

He was also the athlete Jin Hyuk was most interested in since returning, even nicknaming Jang Gun-i ‘Dog Lewis,’ and the one holding the record Jin Hyuk aimed for short-term.

His best record was 9.86.

Set in 1991.

Jin Hyuk aimed to surpass that record in this competition.

– “Of course you can! You’re young!”

Carl Lewis, resembling Samuel L. Jackson as he aged, laughed heartily, his encouragement more valuable than anyone else’s.

After all, he was like an idol.

“Son-! You’ve seen my record, right?”

Swoosh-!

When Carl Lewis called Jin Hyuk, it felt like he was calling him ‘son,’ not just ‘Mr. Son.’ Probably due to the nearly double age difference.

Thumbs up, Jin Hyuk turned to Jin Seon-kyu.

Idols are idols, but this senior is really······.

“Heh-heh-heh-.”

Jin Seon-kyu, engrossed in the long jump bet, wore a smile instead of tension, laughing like a fool in mid-air.

Poof-!

“Yeah-! Kyuuuuu-!”

Despite the cheers, Jonathan gave a thumbs down in a duck-butt pose.

“Hey, damn it! This is damn good, man. Heh-heh-.”

Jin Seon-kyu jumped over 7.5 meters.

Behind Jonathan’s 7.8 meters, but still a good record.

Narrowing his stride to avoid strain and barely stepping on the board to prevent injury, yet achieving a national-level performance.

“Whew-. I don’t have to buy drinks! Jin Hyuk, go for it!”

If the bet ends here, Michael Marsh, who barely cleared 7 meters, and the last place would compete.

Jin Hyuk stood at the starting area, cheered by Jin Seon-kyu.

“Yeah-! Soooon-!”

Jonathan fooled around from afar.

Just fooling around, like Jang Gun-i chasing butterflies.

Though he practiced long jumps behind the warehouse and house for fun, it’s his first time jumping in front of world-class athletes. And Carl Lewis, no less.

Kkuk-.

Feeling unreal in reality, a laugh escaped his lips.

Tat-! Tat-! Tatat-! Bababak-!

Watching from heaven, Johnson! See the run-up skills improved thanks to you and Dog Lewis!

Kwajak-!

He properly stepped on the board with his toes.

Whoosh-.

It felt like flying.

In the windless football field, the wind sound at his ears created augmented reality.

Flew faster, higher, farther than anyone.

Even more than idol Carl Lewis.

As everyone stood agape, Jin Hyuk alone cut through the air, scattering sand spectacularly.

Swoosh-!

‘About the same as usual.’

Confirming the record, Jin Hyuk threw an uppercut salute to the empty stands where only US coaches sat. They’ll understand it’s not cursing.

A light 9.5 meters.

“What the······.”

As Jonathan trailed off, Carl Lewis screamed.

“Poooooof-!”

Brushing sand off his butt, Jin Hyuk shrugged nonchalantly.

“I’m not competing in long jump, Carl.”

Don’t worry, be happy.

A usual result, but maybe surprising to them.

“Ohhh······, my junior.”

Jin Seon-kyu, dazed, stood awkwardly like Jeong Won after pooping.

And in that pose, he circled around Jonathan.

“Whoa yeah yeah yeah-! Soooon-!”

Jeong Won’s pose with Jonathan’s antics. Like Jang Gun-i······.

Seems like only weird people gather around Jin Hyuk.

Well, seeing Jin Seon-kyu fool around more than Jonathan, the goal of relaxing him seems achieved.

Jin Seon-kyu, chattering like a chimpanzee with Jonathan, approached and put a hand on Jin Hyuk’s shoulder.

“Jin Hyuk, let’s do this often. It’s so fun doing something other than training.”

Is the Olympics a joke to this guy······.

*

Final tempering.

Thanks to newfound friendships, he could give his all even in front of US athletes.

Pouring out hidden strength in 10 seconds, again and again.

“Ahhh-! I’m dying. Isn’t this too brutal?”

“No. Get up.”

Huff- huff-.

Even Jin Hyuk wasn’t comfortable pushing.

“You should’ve expected it if you saw the schedule.”

“No! I couldn’t! Absolutely couldn’t!”

Days passed in a cycle of hellish training and heavenly rest.

The opening was just around the corner.