Everyone in the stadium had a horrified expression on their face. What happened here today was something they couldn't even imagine.
The first place in the "Group of Death" in the 400-meter qualifying race turned out to be a disabled athlete who had lost both feet!
"Am I dazzled? The first one to cross the finish line was the 'Blade Runner'? He is a disabled person! He has no feet, and only one leg is left. People without feet will Can you run faster than someone with legs?"
"What on earth is going on? Isn't this the 'Group of Death'? Why is the first place a disabled person? What are the other seven contestants doing? Are they all imitating turtles? Why is a disabled person allowed? Got first place?”
"Fake match, this must be a fake match! Otherwise, how could a disabled person get the first place in the group! This must be because the other seven contestants are cheating, and they have all been bribed!" A person who has read too many mystery novels swears said.
But at this moment, the results of the contestants also appeared on the electronic display.
This is indeed the "Group of Death". The athletes are all capable enough to enter the main draw, so their results are also at the main draw level. There are many people who are approaching 45 seconds, and even more people are within 45 seconds. Compared with this, the results of the first three groups are simply appalling. Judging from the standards of the World Championships selection and qualifying rounds, this level of performance is estimated to only occur in the United States.
Philip, who ranked first, had a time of 44.72 seconds!
"44 seconds 72, he can run such a time! And the other people's results are also very good. This is not because other athletes are showing off, and there is no fake race. That 'Blade Runner' is really fast."
"I remember that in the last Olympic Games, the worst time to advance to the finals was 44.79 seconds, which means that 'Blade Runner' has the strength to enter the Olympic finals!"
"I feel like I know now how fast this Los Angeles 'Blade Runner' can run! Is today's result his limit?"
"Then you will know when you watch the game tomorrow. He is first in the group and has advanced to the main game tomorrow!"
…
Oliver crossed the finish line second, but his expression was extremely annoyed and disappointed.
"I actually lost to a disabled person!" At this moment, Oliver seemed to have lost his soul and looked like a mindless walking corpse.
Not only Oliver, but Land Jackson, Marcus Garcia, Joe Christian... other players in the same group also looked lonely.
They are all professional athletes, and they are all the best among professional athletes. Although losing games is commonplace for them, losing to a disabled athlete is something they cannot accept.
"44 seconds 72! How can he be so fast? He can run so fast without feet!" Oliver finally saw Phillip's results.
Oliver has only run this time of 44.72 seconds during training. In official competitions, Oliver has never achieved such a time.
At this moment, in Oliver's heart, the original contempt for Philip had turned into a deep sense of fear. Oliver looked at Philip with eyes as if he had seen the "big devil".
…
Lopez walked around the office, looking like he was having a mental battle.
Finally, Lopez made a decision. He picked up the phone and dialed the phone number of USATF CEO Williams.
"Hello, sir, I am Lopez. I have something to report to you. Do you remember that Barron Philip, the 'Blade Runner'?"
Before Lopez could finish speaking, Williams on the other end of the phone asked, "Have you not dealt with that guy yet?"
"No, no, after your order yesterday, I have accepted his registration. And he also came to participate in the competition today." Lopez said.
"I understand. You don't have to report to me exactly how to do it. As long as he doesn't cause us any more trouble." Williams said impatiently.
"Yes sir, I don't know if this is the trouble he brought to us, that's why I wanted to report it to you." Lopez paused and then said: "He advanced, and the disabled person is in the qualifications Qualified in the competition!"
"What did you say? Advance? He is a disabled person, he has no feet! Can he advance?" Williams asked in surprise.
"And he advanced as the first in the group. So I want to ask you now, do you want him to participate in tomorrow's main game? After all, he is a disabled person, and he can only participate in the qualifying competition, but tomorrow's main game It's a trial for the World Track and Field Championships, and it will be broadcast live across the United States. Do we want him to go on the field and compete with the top athletes in the country?" Lopez asked.
"Lopez, can't you arrange a more difficult grouping for him?" Williams began to blame.
"Sir, I have arranged a 'death group' for him, but he still qualified. His time was 44.72 seconds. According to the situation in previous years, this time can be placed in the main race and he can also enter the finals." Luo Pace's tone was filled with bitterness.
"You mean, we might still see him in the finals?" Williams' voice was filled with disbelief.
"If he can perform like this, I won't rule out the possibility!" Lopez answered honestly.
"Hell! Philip, you might as well just tell me that he can enter the top three, take away a spot in the World Championships, and then represent the United States of America in the World Track and Field Championships! What will the world say then? They will say, oh , you see, the great United States, the world's number one track and field power, can only send a lame man without feet to participate in the competition!" Williams said angrily.
"I'm sorry, sir." Lopez continued: "How about we simply refuse him to participate in tomorrow's main game?"
"Reject him to participate? Are your brains rusty?" Williams continued: "A disabled person successfully advanced to tomorrow's main game. Do you think the reporters won't smell such a strange thing? Maybe? That 'Blade Runner' is being interviewed by reporters right now! If you refuse him to participate, how will public opinion view us?"
"Then what should we do?" Lopez asked.
"Now, we can only cope with the changes by staying the same." Williams said helplessly.
…
As Williams expected, Philip was being interviewed by reporters at this time.
Not far away, Dai Li and Steven were sitting together. Dai Li was holding a cup of coffee in his hand, while Steven was holding a take-out pizza and devouring it.
"It's not easy to be your agent. In order to contact reporters, I have been working so hard that I haven't eaten until now." Li Dai said.
"Many people think that agents are like vampires, living by sucking blood from athletes. But where in the world is there a job where you can sit at home and count money?" Steven smiled self-deprecatingly: "In the United States, agents The competition among them is also very fierce, with people constantly joining and people changing careers. In fact, the market is so big, just like the pizza in my hand, if I eat one more piece, others will get less. Those who arrive will be left hungry.”
"As long as Philip can maintain his current condition, I think you don't have to worry about going hungry." Dai Li casually glanced at Philip who was being interviewed.
"Yes, I have already begun to plan to leave the apartment I rented and buy a house of my own." Steven nodded, and then said: "To be honest, I really regret it now."
"What do you regret?" Li Dai asked.
"I regret that 5%!" Steven sighed helplessly: "Based on the current situation, Philip's advertising endorsement income this year will definitely exceed 1 million, and the extra 500,000, I will give you 5% %, you lost tens of thousands of dollars for no reason. Did you expect this day to happen?"
Dai Li did not deny it, he nodded: "Yes, I know that Philip has the ability to compete with able-bodied people, but this ability has never been developed."
"Your judgment is very accurate." Steven swallowed the pizza in his mouth and continued: "Then do you think it is possible for him to advance to the main game tomorrow?"
"There are two preliminary rounds and a final in the main competition. Are you asking whether he can advance to the final or get a quota for the World Championships?" Li Dai asked.
"I want to know the answers to both." Steven said, wiping the pizza sauce from his mouth with a tissue.
"There are 24 athletes participating in the preliminary round. In addition to the 12 athletes who advanced in the qualifying round today, there are also 12 seeded players. Those 12 seeds are the top athletes in the United States, including those who participated in the last World Championships and those who participated in the Olympic Games. There are also participants from the Diamond League. These 24 people will compete for 8 final places. According to the rules, the top two in each group and the third place in the two best groups can advance."
As Dai Li spoke, he once again looked at Philip who was not far away, and then said, "I think as long as the group classification is too bad, it won't be a problem for Philip to advance to the finals. As for participating in the World Championships..."
"It's unlikely, right?" Steven asked.
Dai Li nodded: "Only the top three can participate in the individual events of the World Championships, and the fourth place can participate in the 4x400m relay race of the World Championships. In other words, half of the eight finalists can compete in the World Championships." On the stage of the competition, the odds seem high, but for Philip, it is very difficult because the opponent is too strong."
Speaking of this, Dai Li sighed helplessly: "Among the 12 seeded players, two people can run under 44 seconds. These two people have already reserved two places, and the results of the other three people are within 44 seconds." Within 44.5 seconds, the strength of the remaining people is not comparable to that of Philip. If Philip wants to stand out, it will be an almost impossible task. Unless he can create a miracle himself!"