Chapter 205: An Unexpected Accident (1/2)

Chapter 205: An Unexpected Accident

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Standing in front of the starting block, the Qatar player Clark was twisting his joints slightly.

Clark had been born in a village in Kenya. For generations, his family had been peasants living off of planting cassava. Cassava is a common crop in the tropical area, which doesn't need fine management, and has a high output and good drought resistance. Every year after the sowing period, the cassava could bear very large fruits, even without watering and fertilization.

Clark's family had a lot of land, so his family could keep themselves from starving by planting cassava. The eldest generation of Clark's family led quite a leisurely life every day. Two pieces of cassava would be enough for a day's rations. After eating, they would hang out in the village, or just sleep in the shade of a tree.

However, Clark did not want to lead a life of sitting around like the generations that had come before him. He did not want to be a peasant all his life; but Kenya had almost no industries, nor a service sector. Outside of being a peasant, there was nothing he could do. As a result, Clark had to engage in sports like many other Kenyans, for it was one of the only ways Kenyans could change their fate.

The event Clark had chosen was long-distance running, which was one of Kenya's strongest events. As the world's superpower in middle- and long-distance running, Kenya had cultivated many middle- and long-distance running champions.

However, Clark was not gifted in long-distance running; but his powerful explosive force and quick strides were quite impressive, so he was chosen by the coach of the sprinting team. Ever since then, he had had his sprinting career.

After shifting his focus to sprinting, Clark had achieved many things; soon after he made the switch, he became the national sprinting champion of Kenya. It was also at this time that Qatar came to him in hopes that he could work for Qatar as an immigrant athlete.

Through revenue of petroleum and natural gas, the per capita GDP of Qatar had always been among the top three in the word. For Clark, Qatar was extremely wealthy, and a place where he could make a lot of money. Therefore, he took on the Qatar nationality without any hesitation.

As a black athlete, Clark was not the best athlete in the world. However, he could defeat the Asian athletes easily. Since Clark's naturalization, he had won many Asian championships for Qatar, including the championship in the last Asian Game's 100m sprint.

Clark also received a profitable return for these championships. Because he was an immigrant athlete, the people of Qatar did not consider him a hero of their country. However, money was not a problem for Qatar. Clark's salary was very high, and he also received a decent-sized bonus for each championship he won.

Clark was now thirty. As a sprinter, he had entered the later stage of his career. In fact, Clark knew he was definitely older than thirty. His parents were illiterates without any education. They even needed a lot of time to finish addition and subtraction with numbers below ten. Therefore, the age of Clark was just a rough estimate they had made. Even when Clark looked in the mirror, he himself did not believe he was only thirty.

Because of this, Clark was devoured by a sense of crisis. He was eager to make more money so that he could have a comfortable life after his retirement. This was also the reason he had attended all kinds of matches frequently in the last two years.

The Asian Games were always a good chance for him to make money. He had won the championship in the last Asian Games, so if he could defend his title, Qatar would definitely give him a large bonus. As he thought about it, Clark couldn't help bending over and rubbing his shin.

His shin was not in good condition. As a small sprinter with a fast stride, it was normal for him to have accumulated injuries in his legs over time, let alone in the matches he had attended frequently in the last two years. Without sufficient rest, his legs had been further overwhelmed.

After this Asian Games, I shall take a long vacation. As Clark thought this to himself, he stood on the starting block.

Looking at the opponents on his left and right, Clark felt quite assured. Among these opponents was someone he recognized and someone that was new to him. But it was certain that he was the only one whose result could be under ten seconds among all eight athletes.

The starter signaled to the athletes so that they could get fully prepared, then raised the starting pistol.

At the sound of the starting pistol, the players rushed out from the starting line. Clark's starting phase was very successful; he had almost taken the lead in the very beginning of the match.

The stride rate of the small sprinters was always fast. Athletes whose stride rate was fast would be advantageous in the beginning phase of the match. Normally, in the first thirty meters, athletes whose stride rate was fast would take the lead, and at the very least would not fall behind.

”Clark is taking lead; he is in great shape today.”