[Short track speed skating] From academic master to Winter Olympic champion

In the blink of an eye, it entered June, and after Xu Qing's multi-party coordination, the matter of Gu Ran's schooling has also come to fruition.

In this year's National Youth Short Track Speed ​​Skating U Series Competition and the final finals, he won six gold medals and three silver medals in total, breaking the competition record twice. The leaders of the center are satisfied.

Coupled with Beijing's successful bid to host the Winter Olympics, it has vigorously developed the Winter Olympics to reserve talents for the Winter Olympics to be held in China in a few years.

Gu Ran is 14 years old this year, and he will not be 19 years old until the Beijing Winter Olympics, which is the golden age of a short track speed skater.

Although he has practiced short track speed skating for a short time, his talent is obvious to the naked eye, and the leaders are naturally unwilling to give up such a talent.

Moreover, he was relatively young, and it was time for him to study. Even if he entered the provincial team, besides training, he would be arranged to attend classes every day.

That being the case, it is better to let him study in the high school next door.

The other school saw his report card and couldn't believe it was the report card of a sports student.

Moreover, he is only 14 years old, one year younger than the average high school student. He either studies a year earlier or skips a grade in the middle. Isn't this a proper child prodigy.

The key point is that he is still a member of the provincial short-track speed skating team. Later, he will compete at home and abroad, and even win the championship in the Olympic Games.

So, the matter was settled.

Gu Ran didn't tell his parents about it until now.Xu Mei was not happy when she heard it: "When will it happen, you kid, why don't you discuss it with us?"

Gu Ran held the phone without looking up: "I'm discussing with you right now."

Xu Mei said, "Can I not go?"

"Why?" Before Gu Ran could speak, Gu Changfeng asked first, "There are hundreds of children practicing short track speed skating in a province, but there are only a few people in the provincial team. Your son is one of them. Why don't you go?"

Xu Mei sighed: "My son's academic performance is so good, he will definitely be able to enter a good university in the future, and live a safe and smooth life, why should he take the road of sports?"

Gu Changfeng said: "Because he has this talent, other children's goal of training for ten or eight years is to enter the provincial team and become a professional athlete. My son was spotted by the provincial team coach after less than a year of training."

The son was born by herself, and Xu Mei knows better than anyone else: "My son is smart, he has to be strong since he was a child, and he has to do everything to the best. With his personality, he can be successful in other things as well. Why do he have to practice skating? ?”

Gu Ran asked: "Since doing other things is the same, why can't you practice skating?"

"Because you will get hurt!" Xu Mei couldn't bear it anymore, thinking of this incident, she felt a little scared, "This time it's the shoulder, what about next time? Will it sprain your ankle, break a bone, or fall to the spine... ..."

At this point, Xu Mei couldn't continue, she turned her back and turned her back to her son and husband: "During the days when you were injured, I couldn't sleep every night because I was afraid that you would be injured all over at a young age."

"But..." Gu Ran always thought it was an accident, and he was only slightly injured, and he would be fine after a few days of rest.

But he didn't expect that his mother would be worried about this for so long.

Xu Mei wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand: "Those children with poor academic performance will want to practice sports to get ahead, and you are different from them. Besides our family's conditions, even if your academic performance is not good, you will not be able to pass the exam in the future." If you can’t find an ideal job in a good university, we can also let you live a life without worrying about food and clothing, why do you choose the most difficult path for yourself?”

"Because I like it?" Gu Ran took her mother's hand, smiling so much that her eyebrows and eyes curled up, "I like skating, I like the sense of speed galloping on the track, and I enjoy the moment when I overtake my opponent. When you cross the finish line and break the record, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment in your heart."

"I think I was born to challenge the limit. According to the life trajectory you arranged for me, I can see the end at a glance."

"But I don't want to be like that. Short track speed skating allows me to see a completely different future. Although I am a late enlightenment, and although I am not tall enough, I want to give it a try. Through my own efforts, step by step, from a teenager competitions, skating to national championships, world championships, and even the Olympics."

"Five years later, I want my name to be on top of the Winter Olympics along with the five-star red flag."

Gu Ran has been gently holding her mother's hand, and her voice is very gentle when speaking, but Xu Mei can feel the firm strength between his words.

He has closely linked his goal with the Beijing Winter Olympics a few years later, and will work hard for it, and will not look back easily.

That was his choice, and no one can change it, not even his parents.

"Son!" Gu Changfeng suddenly moved to Gu Ran's side, and put his arms around his shoulders, "That's a good point, personal honor is secondary, the main thing is to win glory for the country!"

"It's a good thing to have a dream and a goal, and you have to work hard for it, especially to kill those Koreans and put an end to their arrogance..."

"Dad!" Gu Ran reminded him, "It's getting too far."

Gu Changfeng took a peek at Xu Mei who was sitting on the other side, and seeing her expression gradually calm down, he said, "In short, my mother and I will definitely support you with all our strength, right!"

His arm went around behind his son, and he patted his wife on the back twice: "Speak, mom, do you want to support your son?"

Xu Mei was so annoyed by him, she avoided his hand, but kept looking at her son: "As long as it is what you want to do, mother will of course support you. But you have to promise me to protect yourself and never get hurt. "

Gu Ran immediately threw her arms around Xu Mei's neck, and leaned on her shoulder coquettishly: "I promise, I will protect myself, mom, don't worry."

Xu Mei stroked his head: "I thought you would grow taller by practicing skating, but why doesn't it look like you have grown at all?"

"Isn't it growing?" Gu Changfeng stretched out his hand and stroked Gu Ran's head, "I think it's a little longer."

"Is it long? Why can't I see it?"

The couple played with their son's head, worrying that he was 14 years old and why he hadn't started to grow.

Although his classmates are at least one year older than him, but standing with them, he looks like a junior in elementary school.

Gu Ran couldn't do anything about being rubbed by the two of them, so she stood up and walked to the kitchen: "I'll go get a glass of water."

Gu Changfeng slapped him on the buttocks: "It's not long, it's all over the buttocks."

When he said this, Xu Mei stretched out her hand and squeezed it: "It's getting more and more warped."

"Pouting every day, can you not turn up?" Gu Ran seized the opportunity to teach her parents science, "The most important thing in short track speed skating is to occupy space and surpass. Only when the butt is raised enough is it beneficial for the body to occupy space."

Xu Mei said: "I think I made you so warped."

"Yes," Gu Ran catered to his mother as well as he could, "it's also due to you."

After two good days at home, I stretched out my clothes and stretched out my hands to eat and opened my mouth. On Sunday night, I packed up my things, and Gu Ran will be reported by the provincial team early tomorrow morning.

This time he went to the provincial team, not as a young player participating in the training camp, but as an official member of the provincial team.

Therefore, Gu Changfeng and Xu Mei have to accompany him tomorrow.By the way, do some formalities for him.

When Gu Changfeng was driving, he passed the new school that Gu Ran was about to enter in September: "It looks pretty good."

"The branch campus of No. [-] Middle School is the key point of the province."

Gu Changfeng looked around again: "This area is quite remote."

Gu Ran said: "It's a new urban area. After a few years, the surrounding houses will become lively."

Gu Changfeng nodded: "That's right."

When going through the formalities, one of the forms needs to be signed and stamped by Gu Ran himself.

Xu Qing stood behind the desk and teased him: "Think it over, sign it, you will be my people from now on, you must obey my arrangements, and you have to obey me for food, clothing, housing, and transportation."

It is not an exaggeration at all, he is the head coach, and he arranges everything from training to life for the players every day.

Gu Ran picked up the pen, swiped and swiped her name in two strokes at the signature place, then dipped her index finger in ink pad, and pressed it on her name.

"Listen to you, listen to you, listen to you."

Xu Qing took the form and filed it: "I remember you haven't run within 5000 minutes for the 20 meters."

Not understanding what he said, Gu Ran opened his mouth first: "Continue tomorrow morning, I understand."

But Xu Qing waved his hand: "No hurry, I have to take you to a place first tomorrow morning."

Gu Ran was curious: "Where are you going?"

"Hospital."

Gu Changfeng and Xu Mei looked at each other, and quickly asked, "Director Xu, is there something wrong with the child's health?"

"No, no," Xu Qing waved his hands and asked them to sit down first. "It's like this. Gu Ran performed very well in this year's U-series competition. The leaders of the Winter Management Center and the coach of the national youth team also pay special attention to him."

Speaking of this, he paused for a moment, glanced at Gu Ran, and then continued: "The members of the National Youth Team are all trained as reserve talents for the Beijing Winter Olympics in five years. Therefore, the leaders of the Winter Management Center are very important to the athletes. There are strict requirements for all aspects of quality.”

Hearing this, Gu Ran vaguely understood something.

He suddenly remembered that Song Zhixin patted him on the shoulder several times before presenting awards, and said to him with a smile, "Young man, eat more."

In fact, I was worried that he would not grow taller.

Xu Qing continued: "Short track speed skating actually does not have very high requirements on the height of the athletes. 170cm-180cm is the best. Of course, there is no problem with floating up and down by a few centimeters."

He flipped through the pile of forms in his hand again, one of which filled in the basic information of Gu Ran's parents.

Gu Changfeng is 182 cm tall, Xu Mei is 166 cm tall, and Gu Ran's genetic height should be around 180 cm.

Xu Qing said: "You don't mind, I just took him to measure his bone age."

Neither Gu Changfeng nor Xu Mei said a word, who would want their child to be questioned about not being tall?

The office was suddenly quiet for a moment, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

In the end, Gu Ran said, "It's nothing to mind. The country has spent so much manpower, material resources, and financial resources. Of course, it is to cultivate more valuable athletes. I understand."

The son said he understood, and Gu Changfeng and Xu Mei didn't say anything else.

But before leaving, Xu Mei took her son's hand and said, "Call me if you don't want to practice anymore, and I'll pick you up." After she finished speaking, she turned and left.

Gu Changfeng shook his fist at his son: "Come on, Mr. Gu, if you don't train well, you will go home and inherit billions of dollars."

Gu Ran was very surprised: "Can our family inherit hundreds of millions of property?"

Gu Changfeng withdrew his fist and hammered his left chest: "Trust your father, there will be."

Gu Ran pushed him outside: "Then hold on tighter, you're almost forty."

Xu Qing has been watching him from behind, and the more he looks at him, the more he feels that he is a talent to be made.Not only because of his talent, smart mind, but also because of his self-discipline and his optimistic and positive personality.

He should be that kind of standard, what parents say, someone else's child.

The next morning, Xu Qing handed over the team's training to Director Wang, and took Gu Ran to the hospital by himself.

The bone age test showed that Gu Ran's development was indeed a little later than children of the same age, but it did not affect it.

The doctor advised him to increase his nutritional intake and ensure adequate sleep, and he would soon be able to keep up with his height.

Back at the ice training base, Xu Qing took Gu Ran to the team's nutritionist.

The nutritionist is a beautiful and capable lady named Fang Xiaoqi. She has work experience in a well-known overseas football club and was hired by the ice training base with a lot of money.

Fang Xiaoqi looked at Gu Ran's inspection report, and was rather dissatisfied with Xu Qing: "All the indicators are pretty good, but I don't know what you are anxious about when he is not yet grown up."

So, starting from the second day, Gu Ran ate the nutritious meal that Fang Xiaoqi specially prepared for him. It was mainly high in calcium and protein, and the yogurt was also turned into high calcium pure milk. He also took calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 by mouth every day. .

When Zheng Wenkang saw the fried shrimp in his bowl, he felt a little greedy, and stretched out his chopsticks: "Gu Xiaoran, share it." He also picked up a piece of boiled duck breast on his dinner plate, in exchange.

Gu Ran looked around, mainly to observe the positions of the coaches and Fang Xiaoqi.

He lowered his voice and said to Zheng Wenkang: "With our friendship, the duck breast is unnecessary, and I will share half of the shrimp with you."

Zheng Wenkang blinked his left eye: "Little brother, brother didn't love you for nothing."

Wu Kaize at the side heard their secret deal, and immediately leaned over: "Then I want it too!"

"Go, go!" Zheng Wenkang pushed him, "Just stay and go, you have big duck legs, why come to join in the fun."

Speaking of this, he was still a little aggrieved: "I have been eating boiled duck breast for many days, and a bird can fade out of my mouth."

Gu Ran looked at his senior brother's pitiful look, as if he was hungry, and couldn't bear it, so he quickly picked up the shrimp and put it in his bowl.

Gao Ziyi on the side frowned: "You three, stop making trouble. Director Xu will see you later and you will be punished again. Hurry up and eat your own."

At this moment, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed Gu Ran's arm, and he just held a crystal clear shrimp in mid-air, advancing and retreating.

"Little friend, do you need my sister to feed you?"

Gu Ran struggled twice, but she didn't break free.Fang Xiaoqi looked at a very slender girl, but she didn't expect her hands to be so strong.

"No no... no need, I can do it myself."

"Then eat your own obediently."

Gu Ran glanced at Zheng Wenkang who was gnawing on the boiled duck breast with his head buried in pain: "But my senior brother is so pitiful. Every day, apart from boiled vegetables and boiled eggs, there is boiled duck breast."

Fang Xiaoqi sneered: "You pity him? His body fat rate is almost over 15% now."

"..."

The next morning, Gu Ran, who used to practice alone, suddenly had a comrade-in-arms——Zheng Wenkang was also assigned by Xu Qingfa to run 5000 meters on the playground.

"I can't do it! I can't do it!" Halfway through the run, Zheng Wenkang felt that his footsteps were sloppy and his eyes were blurry, "I really can't run anymore."

Gu Ransheng pulled him hard and got him up from the ground: "Where is this? I haven't vomited yet. Let's run!"

Zheng Wenkang followed behind him with heavy steps, and asked out of breath, "Have you vomited?"

"Throw up every day."

Zheng Wenkang looked at him with pity: "The child is so pitiful, no wonder he is not tall."

Gu Ran does a lot of exercise every day, and at night she has to make up lessons for her brothers and sisters. When she returns to the dormitory, she takes a shower and lays down on the bed for a quick sleep.

He sleeps very well. As soon as he closes his eyes and opens them again, he wakes up to do morning exercises at five o'clock the next morning.

But something happened that night. He slept until midnight and woke up suddenly!