Chapter 83: The Heart Is Still Alive (1/2)

Chapter 83: The Heart Is Still Alive

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

That night, Feixiang Lin tossed and turned restlessly on his bed. Dai Li's words kept popping into his mind, and kept striking his heart like a needle. All his years of experience were flashing back in his mind.

He had met Coach Ding Jihai for the first time when he was a member of the long jump team of a sports school. This encounter had changed his entire life. It was at that moment that he began training for the 110m hurdles.

When he was sixteen, he took part in the 110m hurdles in the National Track and Field Competition for the first time. He came in fourth place.

When he was seventeen, he took part in an international competition for the first time, and won third place. He stood on the prize-winning platform. This was the best finish a Chinese athlete had ever gotten in a short-distance dash competition.

When he was eighteen-years-old, he won first prize in the University. Later, he would always win the championship in every competition he took part in. At the time, he thought he had been born to be a champion.

Finally, he recalled the time taken part in the Olympics, and gotten the gold medal. When interviewed by the journalists, he had said proudly, ”they said that an Asian man could never win a gold medal in the short-distance dash. Well, I did it! I have proved them wrong!” In that moment, he had become a hero in every Chinese person's heart.

But winning the Olympic gold medal was only the beginning of his climax of his sports career. Soon after, he managed to climb to the highest mountain in the world of the short-distance dash; he broke the world record.

Feixiang Lin turned over. All these glorious episodes of his life kept replaying before his eyes, and he became more and more nostalgic.

He remembered how it felt to be a champion, even though he had not tasted the feeling in such a long time. It did not matter, because he was born a champion.

”You are an athlete, and an athlete belongs on the field.”

”You have already created a miracle, why not try and create another one!?”

”If you have lost faith, no one can help you, not even God!”

Dai Li's words kept popping into Feixiang Lin's mind.

”Champion!” Feixiang Lin knew he had been longing for the title of champion. Although he was benumbing himself by leading a befuddled life, he was still missing the feeling he had once had when he would jump over hurdles on the field and stand on top on the prize-winning platform.

”What on earth have I been doing the last two years! I am such an idiot, I have wasted an entire two years!” Feixiang Lin suddenly stood up and touched his right leg, pressing his injured Achilles tendon.

”It does not hurt anymore.” Feixiang Lin calmed down. He did not seem confused anymore, and suddenly became quite determined.

”I cannot give up. I have to put up a fight!”

...

It was 7:50AM. Dai Li had arrived at the training center ten minutes early.

He was neither the first one nor the last one to arrive to the training center. Most coaches and athletes would arrive around this time, except for Feixiang Lin, who always came after 9 o'clock.

Dai Li looked at the gate. He was not sure if what he had said yesterday had worked or not, but there was one thing he was sure of: the manipulation rehabilitation worked.

The manipulation rehabilitation was like a stepping stone. It could help Feixiang Lin be as good as he once was, but the most important thing was for him to take the first step to get back to where he once was. If he continued behaving like he had been before their conversation, like showing up late for training or leaving early to go out and enjoy the nightlife, then even the manipulation rehabilitation would not help him.