Chapter 76 The ice surface shimmered under the lights...
In the first two days of competition, Ren Xiyao only participated in the 1000m and 1500m events. She won a silver medal in the 1000m and a bronze medal in the 1500m. According to the World Championships points system, first place earns 34 points, second place earns 21 points, and third place earns 13 points. She currently has 34 points, ranking third and successfully qualifying for the Super 3000m race. This competition will be very interesting because everyone's points are very close. Let's see who can break through.
This is her second time participating in the Super 3000m competition. Her first was in 2013, her first World Championships, where she also won the 1000m gold medal. She successfully qualified for the Super 3000m, but ultimately fell far short of the all-around champion that year. The all-around champion was the team captain.
She was genuinely envious back then, but today her technique is more refined than it was three years ago. Her mindset is also more stable, and she understands better how to allocate her energy. She thinks this might be her closest chance to become an all-around champion, and she's determined to give it her all.
"Dear viewers, welcome back to the live broadcast of the 2016 Short Track Speed Skating World Championships!" The South Korean commentator's booming voice echoed throughout the stadium, filled with great enthusiasm.
As a fellow commentator, a former short track speed skater added, "That's right! Although this event isn't an Olympic event, it holds extraordinary significance for short track speed skaters!"
"Yes!" the commentator raised his voice: "This is truly an extremely high level of skill."
"The Super 3000 meters is like a miniature version of a 'race within a race'! It consists of 28 laps, a very long distance, and is a huge test of the athletes' physical strength. But most importantly, it has two scoring points along the way!"
“Yes,” the commentator added, “Sprint points are usually set at the 1000m and 2000m mark of the race. The athletes will also receive extra Super 3000m points based on their ranking when they pass the points. Specifically, the Super 3000m is scored separately: 34 points for first place, decreasing to 1 point for eighth place.”
"The final overall score is calculated by adding the points earned by the athlete in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m events to the points earned in the Super 3000m!" the commentator summarized. Short track speed skating is quite popular and attracts a lot of attention in South Korea. Because of the large number of champions produced, and even a near-monopoly in the long distances in earlier years, the commentators are quite experienced in this area.
The commentator got excited: "Alright, the eight top athletes who qualified for the Super 3000m have entered the arena! They are Sofia from the Netherlands, Antonie from Germany, Sanx from Canada, Ririo Sakamoto from Japan, Kim Sook-yeon and Park Min-hee from South Korea, and Ren Xiyao and Xu Qinghe from the Chinese team."
A huge cheer erupted in the stadium, especially when the two local players were introduced; the atmosphere among the home crowd was fantastic.
The ice skates scraped against the ice, making a soft, rustling sound. Ren Xiyao stood on the starting line, took a deep breath, and the icy air instantly filled her lungs, bringing a slight stinging sensation. 28 laps, 3000 meters.
She looked at her seven opponents, all of whom were world-class players, each with formidable strength. This time, Ren Xiyao's total score was much higher, and Sister Xu beside her would provide some support. In the Super 3000, tactics were perfectly acceptable, as the distance was quite long, so teammates could coordinate with each other.
The coach's voice rang in her ears: "Xiyao, remember, this is your rhythm. Don't let others disrupt it. Strive for the best position on the two points. Make the final sprint, believe in yourself, your stamina is fine!"
Physical fitness. She knew this was one of her strengths; after a long period of recovery and targeted training, her endurance was better than before. But the 28-lap Super 3000m was a completely different concept. It wasn't just about finishing the race; it was about bursting into action at crucial moments to seize points. The situation on the track could change in an instant. Off-track coaching couldn't keep up; most of the time, it required the athlete's own judgment on the track. Fortunately, Ren Xiyao was adept at turning chaos into victory, which was her advantage. Hopefully, she could maximize this advantage in this competition.
Gunshots rang out.
"The race has begun!" The commentator's voice suddenly rose: "Eight drivers filed out and began this long 28-lap journey! As you can see, the drivers were very cautious at the beginning, and their speed was not fast. They were all observing each other and finding their positions."
The commentator said, "Yes, the Super 3000 is different from short-distance events. Few athletes will accelerate recklessly at the beginning. Everyone is conserving energy to prepare for the later points and the final sprint. The current leader is Canadian athlete Sanx, who is a very good endurance athlete."
"We see Ren Xiyao from the Chinese team in fourth place. She's closely following the skaters ahead of her, skating with a very steady and relaxed rhythm. You wouldn't guess this is her first World Championships Super 3000m competition since her comeback!"
The commentator replied, "Ren Xiyao's performance has fluctuated quite a bit this season. At the beginning, it was obvious that she had become rusty from being away from the competition for so long. However, in recent competitions, she has shown an amazing recovery speed and strong strength, especially in the 1000m and 1500m, where her improvement has been very rapid. Although she didn't win a gold medal this time, long-distance running is undoubtedly her strength and her biggest competitor in our country. This puts her at the top of the all-around points standings, making her a strong contender for the all-around title!"
"That's right!" Coach Xie exclaimed excitedly, "According to our pre-race points calculation, Ren Xiyao is currently ranked third in the overall standings, only behind our Jin Shuyan and Canada's Shanks! Her performance in this Super 3000m race will directly determine who will become the ultimate all-around champion!"
"Eight laps have been completed! We're about to reach our first points point!" The commentator's voice rose again, and the atmosphere in the stadium became tense: "The riders are accelerating! The battle for position is becoming extremely fierce!"
"As you can see, Ren Xiyao has started to accelerate! She used the inside lane during the corner to overtake and move from third to second place! She's sticking close to the driver in front of her!"
"South Korean athlete Park Min-hee has surged to the front! She's the first to cross the points!" the commentator exclaimed. "Next up is Ren Xiyao from China! She's secured second place! And Sankes from Ghana has taken third place!"
After calming down, his partner said, "Okay! The results for the first points are confirmed! Park Min-hee is first, Ren Xiyao is second, and Sang Kexi is third! This will affect the overall score!"
"That's right!" the commentator immediately analyzed: "Park Min-hee scored high at this point, but she wasn't ranked high in the previous individual categories, so her impact on the all-around champion might not be significant. The key is Sanks, Kim Sook-yeon, and Ren Xiyao! They are the top three in the all-around rankings! And their scores are very close. Ren Xiyao got second place, while the other two didn't manage to get ahead at this point. Ren Xiyao slightly widened her advantage."
For Ren Xiyao, who was on the field at that moment, the points had been scored, securing second place. The energy that had burst forth in her body receded like a tide, leaving her lungs burning. She adjusted her breathing and rejoined the team's rhythm. The sprint had consumed some of her energy, but securing the points was essential. Second place was acceptable.
She glanced back at the situation. During the initial rush, she could clearly feel Xu Jie blocking her path. That's why Jin Shuyan couldn't get on. Xu Qinghe, as expected of an Olympic champion, was extremely skilled in using the running line. Speaking of running lines in short track speed skating, it's a crucial element in some ways, even more important than absolute speed. Often, even if an athlete has a very high absolute speed, if the running line is blocked, they can only follow behind. Therefore, short track speed skating is not only a competition of absolute speed, but also extremely important for controlling the running line. Jin Shuyan originally wanted to pull directly onto the outside lane, but Xu Jie was determined to block her way.
She reached lap 20. Eight laps to go. Her legs started to feel heavy, and a dull ache emanated from deep within her muscles. She knew everyone was in the same boat; their stamina was declining. Now, the competition wasn't just about physical strength, but also about willpower.
She looked at the ice, watching her skates carve clear arcs across the smooth surface. Each push felt like a struggle against some invisible force. "Hold on," she told herself. "Hold on." She didn't know how to describe the feeling of pushing herself to her limit. The air in her lungs was constantly being squeezed, each breath burning painfully, and she could even smell the metallic tang of blood.
"The race has entered the 20th lap! Eight more laps." Teacher Chen's voice was a little hoarse, clearly excited by the tension of the race: "We're about to enter the final sprint, and the athletes are all getting moving."
The commentator added, "The team's speed has clearly increased! The players are adjusting their positions, preparing for the final sprint!"
"Xu Qinghe has been firmly blocking Shuyan's position. And at this moment, Ren Xiyao, who was in third place, has pushed forward again!" the commentator exclaimed. "She skated very decisively! She barely slowed down when entering the corner, so she overtook the skater in front of her the moment she exited the corner, and moved into second place!"
"Sanks is in the lead! She's in the best position!" The commentator added, "Ren Xiyao is right behind her! Right at the corner! Ren Xiyao! She's accelerating at the corner! She's used a lane change!"
"My God!" the commentator exclaimed. "Ren Xiyao used a right-angle change of lane on the third-to-last lap corner! And she successfully took the lead!"
On the ice, Ren Xiyao's body cut into the curve at an almost unbelievable angle, her skates leaving a blinding white line on the ice. Her core muscles tensed instantly, and she swung her arms forcefully against the powerful centrifugal force. At that moment, she had only eyes for Sanx ahead and the finish line.
"Ren Xiyao! He's still accelerating with three laps to go, and Jin Shuyan is catching up too!" The commentator's voice trembled with excitement: "Shuyan-xi! Go for it!"
The commentator said, "Shuyan's late-game performance is her absolute advantage. She has plenty of stamina. She has now risen to second place and is chasing Ren Xiyao. We'll see if Ren Xiyao can withstand Shuyan's challenge."
"From now on, it will be a pure contest of physical strength and willpower!" the commentator added. "Whoever can maintain their speed in the final stretch will have an advantage in the final Super 3000m rankings! And this final ranking will directly determine the all-around champion!"
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