Chapter 459: Return of the King

On the fourth day of the Olympic Games trials, the event finals began one after one. Runners earned prizes and the right to a spot on the Olympic team.

At this time, the competition finally became more heated. In the United States, no average athlete could enter the final of the trial. In some highly competitive events such as sprint and hurdle, the level of the finals could be as fierce as that of the Olympic Games. Other finals were also world-class.

The last two games on the fourth day were even more important. In one event, the legendary athlete Aylwin would attend the final of the 400m sprint. If he entered the top three, he would attend the Olympic Games as an American athlete for the fourth time.

The other was the 100m sprint. This event had always been one of the most popular sports in track and field. A lot of star athletes would attend it, and the person who won the first place would become the new American flying man. Aylwin was wildly popular now. Every time he appeared on the field, the audience would shout crazily. It was natural for him to be qualified to attend the Olympic Games again.

Aylwin was also excited now. Before he appeared on the field, he received a message that a famous sports brand would provide him with an endorsement contract of fifteen million dollars for two years on the condition that he could attend the Olympic Games.

In track and field sports, it was out of imagination for any athlete to receive such a high endorsement contract. Even many all-star basketball players couldn’t receive such a contract. Once Aylwin got that money, he would feel less pressed financially. Even if the oil prices kept falling, Aylwin didn’t need to worry about the shale oil.

Besides, it was only a start for Aylwin. As one of the greatest athletes in American history, he would get continuous income as long as he appeared in games. It would be better if he could win several championships.

To the left of Aylwin, a black man with a mustache on his chin was secretly watching Aylwin.

This black man was called Brown, and he was five years younger than Aylwin. Before Aylwin retired, Brown once won two second prizes in the 400m of Olympic Games and one second prize in the 400m of the World Championship. He didn’t win the first prize, not because he wasn’t fast enough, but because Aylwin was there.

It was also the same in other games. If Aylwin attended, then Brown could only win a silver medal. However, Aylwin attended all the international games, so Brown was constantly the runner up. But in the 4x400m event, Brown had won a lot of gold medals as he followed the US national team.

Aylwin was nearly invincible in the 400m event. No matter how hard Brown had tried, he couldn’t beat Aylwin. Until three years ago, when Aylwin chose to retire. After that, Brown started to learn how it tasted to be a world champion without Aylwin in his way. Brown was the first place in the last track and field World Championship, and later in the World Championship, he won the gold medal of 400m.

Obviously, Brown’s goal was to win a 400m gold medal in this Olympic Games. In fact, he was so close to that goal, because being the champion of USA in the 400m was almost the same thing as being the champion of the world.

However, Aylwin had returned. The high mountain that Brown would never cross, the demon Aylwin, had come again!

At this time, Brown’s feelings were complicated. On one hand, he didn’t think it possible that Aylwin could be in his previous state despite being in his thirties, so Brown still had the chance to defeat him. On the other hand, the shadow caused by Aylwin was like a nightmare, haunting his mind.

…

To the right of Aylwin was a young black man named Andrew, a new star in recent years. Andrew had great talent. He was only 23 years old, and he was just second to Brown. Besides, he was still making progress. The previous year, he even got within 44 seconds.

Unlike Brown, Andrew was extremely excited now that his idol had returned! For Andrew, this was a game and also a pilgrimage.

When Aylwin got his first Olympic gold medal, Andrew was still a pupil. It was no exaggeration that Andrew grew up watching Aylwin’s games. Because of Aylwin’s influence, he chose to work on the 400m event. As a young 400m athlete, Aylwin was definitely Andrew’s idol.

Four years ago, Andrew also attended the qualification trial and entered the final. Unfortunately, he didn’t pass the trial. He still remembered on that day when he entered the last straight and started to sprint, Aylwin had already been ahead. His back was just like an insurmountable mountain in Andrew’s mind, flashing all the time.

Four years later, Andrew could get within 44 seconds now. Gradually, he had followed the footsteps of his idol with four years of hard work, and now he could challenge his idol in the competition.

…

Aylwin stood on his track. He didn’t say anything to the others and showed no emotion.

He just stood there, looking at the track before him. Just like a lord standing at the top of his castle and overlooking his manor.

Everyone could feel the sense of confidence upon Aylwin, just like a sword, which would split anything before it.

Aylwin at this moment not only found his playing status again, but also found the feeling of being the number one of the 400m event.

That was a winning feeling, which meant that he would dominate the track as long as he stood on it.

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He was the dominator of the track.

Aylwin took a deep breath and stood upon the starting block. He was ready and waiting for the gunshot.

…

The audience on the stands were silent, as if they had all become deaf. There was no applause at all, only the faint noise of shutter sounds.

Bang! The gun fired.

Then, the shouting rang out across the stands as if it was a mountain torrent. The audience stood up and continuously shouted at the track.

As the athletes started to run, the crazy shouting made them feel like they were in an ancient battle and would fight against terrible enemies.

No one could clearly hear the shouts of the audience, but this shouting sound made them excited, which brought more morale to the competitors.

Brown was inspired by the sound. At this time, he only felt that he was full of strength, which made him run forward with nothing to fear.

Brown could feel that he was in a good state. He couldn’t help turning to see Aylwin next to his track.

I’m faster than him! Brown suddenly realized.

He became increasingly excited in his mind. Throughout his career, he was always defeated by Aylwin and always won the second place. But at this moment, he seemed to see the hope of victory.

Aylwin is 34 years old now. He can’t be as fast as four years ago. I can win! I can win today! Brown began to inspire himself. He wanted to mobilize himself and turn this positive power into momentum.

…

Andrew was not so excited as he was before the start of the race. Professional athletes had to adjust their state as soon as they entered the race, letting everything go and only focusing on the game.

I’m almost as fast as Aylwin. I am not behind him.

Andrew uncontrollably thought of the qualification trial four years ago. At that time, he also entered the final of the qualification and for the first time he could compete with his idol on the same stage, trying to show himself confidently before his idol. However, he only could see the back of his idol far ahead of him.

At that time, Andrew was like a piece of grass, while Aylwin was a tall tree. The gap between them was too large.

But now, the grass had also become a tall tree. Now he could compete with the one who could only be respected in his mind before.

Andrew became excited again. This time, he was not a young man who could only chase his idol anymore, but an athlete who could show himself well, challenge him, and even defeat him!

Nothing could be more inspirational.

…

Aylwin had realized the two competitors on both sides of him were excited. They were fast, like two leopards which were chasing after their prey.

The thought just flashed through Aylwin’s head, but it annoyed him very much. If they were two leopards, Aylwin was the prey they were chasing after.

In Aylwin’s career, he was always the dominator of the 400m event, the absolute king. If others could be leopards on the track, Aylwin should be the king of leopards.

A king couldn’t be a prey!

Aylwin knew that he should and must react to them. He should tell those challengers that he was not old, that he was still the king of the 400m!

The best reaction was to defeat them on the track. Defeat them thoroughly.