513 Social Gap (1/2)

At 10:10 in the morning, two events were happening in the track and field stadium. The field competition was a qualifying match for women's shot put and the track competition was the first round of the men's 800 meters event. For both events, the U.S. team sent three athletes.

The American team originally had had a chance of winning gold in the women's shot put. They had a world-class star who was the runner-up in the Olympics and the winner of the World Championship. This star took the initiative to withdraw from the U.S. team after the outbreak of the drug scandal, on the grounds of a recurring back injury.

On the present U.S. team, the three female shot putters participating had never competed before. Two of them were personally selected by Dai Li.

As for the men's 800 meters, the United States wasn't weak, but the Kenyans were too strong. Kenya's strength was difficult to overcome.

In the area where the coaches waited, Dai Li chatted away with a Chinese coach in his fifties.

The Chinese coach, surnamed Yang, was the coach for the Chinese national team and was responsible for the hurling events. When Dai Li was still learning on the national team, he met this Coach Yang. They had to have a chat since they were reunited. Coach Yang was the same as he had been when Li first met him. However, the ”Little Li” Coach Yang used to know had now become ”Coach Li.”

In terms of their social status, the head coach of a national team of the world's best track and field team was definitely the more important figure in the area.

”We're trying to win gold in the women's shot put event. Xiaona Li won the bronze medal in the World Championships,” Coach Yang said, introducing her.

”I remember her from when I was on our national team. I remember she was less than 18 years old then,” Dai Li said.

”Yeah, it's been so many years,” Coach Yang said with a playful smile. He then said, ”Coach Li, you are the head coach of the American track and field team. What do you think Xiaona Li needs to improve on? How about giving us a few tips?”

Dai Li was able to hear the vague sourness of Yang's words, but Dai Li was able to understand Yang's thoughts.

Back then, Dai Li was only temporary personnel on the national team. He wasn't even an authorized staff member. In contrast, Coach Yang, at the time, was already a coach that was responsible for a minor sports events.

In just a few years, Dai Li became the head coach of the U.S. track and field team, becoming the most important figure in the track and field stadium. He also became a person other coaches looked up to. In terms of status, Dai Li instantly leapfrogged and was ahead of Coach Yang. This was like seeing a younger brother become the head of a powerful society. It was normal for Coach Yang to feel sour in with that kind of social gap between them.

Of course, Coach Yang was not trying to make things hard for Dai Li. He was just a bit annoyed and wanted to vent his emotions.