Chapter 272

It’s a good thing.

Standing at the starting line, clenching his teeth, and nodding his head, he thought just that.

‘If I run ahead confidently, my senior will be less nervous.’

He made every effort to maintain Jin Seon-kyu’s mental state.

In the adaptation training before the opening, and in the track adaptation training before and after the opening, he tried hard to show a bright attitude, even cracking jokes despite not being good at it. Not that Jin Seon-kyu laughed every time, but still.

‘At least I showed effort.’

Thanks to that, Jin Seon-kyu even had the leisure to wave the Korean flag during the athletes’ entrance at the opening ceremony and look around to see where Yoo Jin was sitting.

And about nine days passed after the opening.

The period where the two national representatives, wearing red and blue spikes, burned through their final training, repeating two days of training and one day of rest three times.

With the self-satisfaction of having done everything he could, and the confidence of standing on the test stage without neglecting preparation, his body felt light.

[Wengzong Chen-.]

The Chinese athlete in lane 3 raised his arm high.

Some in the audience were tearing their eyes out, but it was foolishness that wouldn’t shake the athletes focused on the red track and their inner selves.

Most of the audience cheered with applause.

[Mitchell Peters-.]

Lane 4 was an athlete from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

[Jin Hyuk-.]

Hey, who’s Jin Hyuk that they’re calling Oak?

[-Son!]

Ah, it’s me.

Jin Hyuk in lane 5 quickly raised his hand.

Kyaaaa-!

85,000 people. The stadium was packed, but with that roar, he could find Yoo Jin anywhere.

Of course, that’s a lie.

‘Can’t see, can’t see.’

He made a heart above his head towards where he heard Yoo Jin’s voice.

To shake off the tension, he deliberately made big movements, with a bright smile.

‘Mom and Dad are watching from home, right?’

Since Korea is 13 hours ahead…, it must be night there.

[Hiroya Tsuchii-.]

Japanese athlete in lane 7.

Three athletes from East Asia met in the same group.

Hoo-, hoo-.

Not nervous. Not nervous.

It’s just the preliminaries.

Even if I fail, there’s nothing to regret.

It’s a glorious position that most athletes never step on in their lifetime.

‘No, but it would still be a pity if I fail.’

Red on the left, blue on the right.

As a habit, he tapped his left and right toes to check if they were still there.

All systems normal, good morning commander.

[On your mark.]

Even though I heard it at the Thailand competition, English commands have a strange power.

It feels like they’re dryly saying, you are an inanimate object, a machine.

The bigger the competition, the less time they give to think after introducing the athletes.

Perhaps it’s a consideration to not give time for tension and fear to sprout.

[Get set.]

Now, the electronic gun will fire in 1.2 seconds at the earliest, 1.7 seconds at the latest.

Jin Hyuk closed his eyes and maximized his sixth sense.

U.S. sports channels extensively reported on Jin Hyuk’s footage obtained through various means. A former track and field athlete panelist excitedly ranted.

‘He possesses the fastest start reaction speed in the world, yet has never committed a foul, a unique existence.’

World-class athletes’ start reaction times are between 0.14 and 0.18 seconds. Less than 0.2 seconds.

– [Son’s start reaction speed doesn’t exceed 0.11!]

If you react within 0.1 seconds, a foul signal usually sounds.

[Bang-.]

[Bang-baang-.]

Like now.

It was a mistake generally made by athletes who predict the start.

Usman Diarra in lane 8, who had pushed off the starting block, bowed his head deeply.

The rhythm of all the athletes who started normally was broken.

But no one gave Usman Diarra a dirty look.

Even though he ran 30 meters in a short time, he just returned to his position while adjusting his breathing.

After all, a conclusion must be reached in a competition, right?

The audience buzzed.

They said he’s world-class, why is he frozen?

Is it because he’s still young?

[For the smooth progress of the competition, ladies and gentlemen, please maintain silence.]

As the announcement flowed in French and English, the official also looked at the Korean athlete in lane 5 with a puzzled expression.

That athlete didn’t take six steps after the gunshot.

Jin Hyuk tapped his right foot on the starting block and scratched his neck.

‘This is awkward.’

It’s good to save energy, but it feels like attention is being drawn to a strange point.

He just stopped urgently because a foul signal sounded.

Isn’t brake performance also important for high-performance cars?

‘There’s no hydraulic device in my knees, you guys.’

Ignoring the official’s glances, he settled back into position.

[On your mark.]

Ziiii-.

In the returning silence, the speaker noise sounds like tinnitus.

[Get set.]

1 second.

Counting exactly 1 second in his mind, Jin Hyuk opened his eyes wide.

The gaze of 85,000 spectators piercing the back of his head is hotter than the morning sun.

The moment even the audience held their breath.

The reason the time it takes to blink feels so long is probably because everyone’s 1 second is added up.

[Baang!]

Wooaaaah-!

Yes, shout at the top of your lungs.

Just for me.

One foul might warm someone up, or someone might lose their breath and rhythm, but to Jin Hyuk, they’re just competitors to surpass.

Hoooop-!

Like the battles of masters are decided in just one second, 0.1 seconds brings an enormous difference.

If it’s the greatest stage, the Olympics, what more needs to be said?

Pooooo-.

As he approaches the finish line, he puts more strength into his abs and naturally relaxes his legs.

The top three in each group are given a quarterfinal spot, so there’s no reason to push too hard when the ranking is already decided.

‘Why not do your best until the end?’ That’s the answer to those who wonder.

[Taaaang-!]

Even if it’s just the preliminaries, you should still do a ceremony.

Because I’m first.

Will it be recorded as the first group preliminaries ceremony? Whatever- I’m excited-.

An uppercut towards Yoo Jin-!

Kyaaaaaa-!

Listening to his sister’s roar like music, he checked the scoreboard.

「10.01s」

It’s the best record among the five groups and 45 athletes who have competed in the preliminaries so far.

Sorry to Jin Seon-kyu, but Jin Hyuk will take the historic record of being the first to pass the Olympic group preliminaries.

The title of youngest participant went to the Fiji athlete, but since older athletes don’t give up their rankings just because someone is young, it doesn’t matter.

[The result announcement is delayed.]

Unlike the relaxed 1st place, the situation is different for the 2nd place group athletes.

In the group preliminaries where the top three advance to the quarterfinals, three athletes from 2nd to 4th place were tangled up.

Athletes who gave their all to follow the overly leading 1st place athlete were panting and staring at the scoreboard.

1. Son. KOR. 10.01s.

2. Aliu. NGR. 10.29s.

3. Diarra. MLI. 10.29s.

4. Chen. CHN. 10.32s.

5. Borrega. ESP. 10.47s.

···

···

Medvedev from Kazakhstan and Peters from the Virgin Islands, who placed 8th and 9th, smiled and patted Jin Hyuk’s shoulder.

The Japanese athlete who came in 6th left the fastest.

No one even caught when he returned to the waiting room.

The Nigerian and Malian athletes who confirmed 2nd and 3rd place clenched their fists, and the Chinese athlete slumped down in disappointment.

Jin Hyuk comforted his shoulder.

“Chen, you know that four more can advance based on records, right? You might be the first.”

the order of priority, okay?

Looking at the record trends of other groups, it was entirely possible.

“Glelele-.”

Standing up, the Chinese athlete left some incomprehensible words and turned his body towards the waiting room.

‘What is he saying-?’

It sounded like he was saying my arms are thick?

My arms are thick, though. Since I couldn’t understand, I took it as a compliment.

It’s the winner’s leisure, or the winner’s generosity to endure.

Even if I don’t endure, what else can I do?

‘My feelings are unaffected, right?’

If I curse even in my heart, it might leave a bad impact on my mentality.

Like calling someone a rude jerk······ or something.

‘Suddenly, I crave jjajangmyeon.’

At thirteen springs, after my first track and field competition, the most delicious jjajangmyeon in the world that Teacher Park Jae-seung bought me.

‘It doesn’t taste the same anymore.’

Once to Yoo Jin, once to the camera following me.

Giving a thumbs up, Jin Hyuk also headed to the waiting room.

***

Yoo Se-ra tapped a calculator in her head.

Since she didn’t bring a calculator.

‘Even 20 million dollars wouldn’t be enough.’

It’s the group preliminaries, so the records are what they are, but look at that marketability.

Shining brightly like the sun among world-class athletes.

A competition broadcast live worldwide, and he’s monopolizing that camera.

While the camera briefly showed other group 1st place athletes and then withdrew, it was also convinced by the way it followed Jin Hyuk around. Well, I was already convinced of his marketability.

‘That guy’s looks are getting more dazzling day by day.’

I’ve already had meetings with three sports apparel companies in the U.S.

They offered 20 million dollars for three years, but I postponed it until after the Olympics.

That’s not all.

Ad offers from domestic food companies for snacks, ice cream, and ramen are pouring in, and I postponed meetings until after the Olympics.

Clothing brands targeting his natural looks and body honed by exercise also lined up.

There was probably a school uniform brand too. Who would have thought they’d try to exploit his student status like that. Businessmen, tsk tsk-.

‘If I had bitten the contract, it would have been a disaster.’

Something dripped from the eyes of the mother and daughter sitting side by side.

Hearts from the daughter’s eyes, money from the mother’s eyes.

“Mom?”

“Yes-. I’m excited too! He’s my athlete, that guy!”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly using honorifics?”

Normally, you’d ask what else it could be, but Yoo Se-ra expressed doubt at an odd point.

“Do I really have to study abroad?”

Suddenly?

Yoo Se-ra tilted her head and silently asked back.

It’s not just any middle school, but a private school where the children of wealthy and powerful families attend.

It’s a study abroad decision made for Hong Soo-jung’s future, and since Hong Soo-jung also secretly wanted it, it was swiftly arranged with the Olympic dispatch as an opportunity.

“I’ll listen well from now on······.”

A noisy space, not suitable for a serious conversation.

But since her daughter’s expression was serious, Yoo Se-ra couldn’t take it lightly.

I’m her mom.

At times like this, it’s about being mature and serious, promising to talk later.

Yoo Se-ra is a smart mom, so she knows that too.

“I’ll see how you do.”

Isn’t this how it’s done?

Other moms do it this way, I heard.

While Yoo Se-ra was exerting authority over her daughter, the next group’s preliminary competition proceeded smoothly.

In group 6, Dennis Mitchell, whom Jin Hyuk had pointed out, passed the finish line in 1st place.

What do Americans eat to run like that?

‘That guy, still, his record isn’t as good as Jin Hyuk’s.’

Having prepared for business for a long time and indulged in track and field videos, Yoo Se-ra has developed quite an eye. Even in the preliminaries where they don’t give their all, she could see the gap between Jin Hyuk and the American athlete.

But I still don’t understand how they can control their speed in the preliminaries. Is that even possible?

Running that fast, is it possible?

At that speed, it feels like you could be pushed back at any moment.

– “That’s also a kind of relative speed. Even in a fast car, the person inside feels stationary. The speed of light in a vacuum is defined as absolute speed.”

Son Jin-hyeok, being a science major, explained with difficult terms.

Anyway, what’s amazing is the way he eases off at the end and the visible gap with 2nd place, yet it’s not even a 0.01 second difference.

“Human eyes are amazing, right?”

“Yes······, yes, Mom!”

Group 7 didn’t have any noteworthy athletes.

Group 7’s 1st place was 10.33, trailing behind the Chinese athlete’s 10.32 who placed 4th in group 5.

“Run! Run! Uzbek!”

“Uzbekiyaaaa-!”

Still, as fellow Asians, they cheered for the Uzbek athlete with Son Yoo-jin, but he regrettably placed 6th with 10.71.

– “It’s good to have an athlete who performs moderately well in the group. If the rival is weak, I also tend to weaken. But if they’re too good, other athletes might overpace and get injured. Sprinting is also about rhythm. You have to run at your own rhythm, but if you chase, your rhythm breaks, your breathing gets disrupted, and you can’t even achieve your usual performance. I also heard that. No one has run in front of me before······.”

Yoo Se-ra nodded, recalling what Son Jin-hyeok had said.

“Mom, where is Vincenza?”

“Well······.”

As a mom, I have to keep up appearances, but at times like this, I can only scratch my head.

It’s not just Yoo Se-ra who realizes how many countries there are on Earth only during the Olympics.

“I know. That country is in the Caribbean.”

“Wow-. Yoo Jin is amazing. Right, Mom?”

“Um, yes.”

Why does she keep using honorifics?

It’s burdensome.

When it was group 8’s turn, Son Yoo-jin pointed at someone with her finger.

“There, there! The Chilean!”

“Is that athlete Michael or Mike?”

“Yes, that’s right. Like oppa, he runs both 100 meters and 200 meters. He became close with oppa, but he’s a quiet person. And he’s interested in Gwangyeon uncle’s company’s sneakers.”

Hong Soo-jung took this opportunity to speak at length. In honorifics.

Ah, that guy really makes it burdensome.

Yoo Se-ra turned her head to her daughter, who no longer needed to be looked down upon.

“Soo-jung, did you suddenly not want to study abroad?”

“Yes! I can study hard in Korea too.”

Even as she said that, Hong Soo-jung’s eyes scanned the stadium.

Probably looking for oppa who’s already left and can’t be seen.

“Hmm-. Okay.”

“Wow! Really?”

“I’ll see how you do. We’ll talk details later.”

Studying abroad isn’t important right now.

[Taaaang-!]

Michael Marsh finished 1st with a record of 10.14 seconds, showcasing the prowess of a track and field powerhouse.

“Mom-.”

“Wait a moment, kid.”

It means a Korean athlete will come out soon.

A few days ago, Son Jin-hyeok suggested that if Jin Seon-kyu’s contract with his current team ends, he should scout him.

He might cause an accident.

***

Through the mirror sunglasses, the half-open eyes look sharp, as if they’re about to cause an accident.

[Heat nine, ready.]

Ooooh yeah-. Here comes Kyu.

In English, it’s Here comes Kyu. Is it Going?

‘Starting to think random thoughts again.’

Hoooop-. Hup!

Jin Seon-kyu, who came out of the passage, let out a shout.

“Who am I to cause an accident. Let’s run without regrets.”

Heehee-. It’s the Olympics.