523 Clearing the Bar (2/2)

Then Kurayev began his attempt.

Muller's failure surely relieved Kurayev's pressure. Now, he had one more chance than Muller and the situation was more favorable.

Besides, Kurayev was confident that he could jump over 6.08m high.

He stood on the starting area now, but he didn't jump immediately. Instead, he kept adjusting they way he held the pole as well as adjusting his mental state.

Then he began to murmur, as if he was praying to remind himself some key strategy.

At this time, the audience started to clap for Kurayev in rhythm. The applause was getting faster and faster. Any athlete who heard this kind of applause would feel his blood boiling.

Finally, Kurayev started to run and then jump. His body moved smoothly and he crossed the bar.

The bar was slightly shaking. Maybe his body touched the bar or it was caused by the wind.

Kurayev raised his head as soon as he fell on the mat. The bar was still there firmly.

”Yes! Yes!” Kurayev roared with excitement.

”He made it! 6.08m high, Kurayev made it!” The commentator also shouted with excitement.

Cheers erupted from the audience as the large screen played back Kurayev's attempt. In slow motion, Kurayev's body in the air was literally attached to the bar. If Kurayev had been a centimeter off, the bar would have been knocked down.

”Whoa...” The cheers turned to exclamations. The tiniest things causing great results was part of the charm of sports.

…

Since Kurayev cleared the height of 6.08m, the situation was not favorable for Muller. No one would think it unreasonable if Kurayev started celebrating.

This was pole vault. If the athlete failed in the first two attempts, he was not likely to succeed in the third.

Now, Muller's situation was the same as Pat Riley's just a few moments ago. If he failed in his third attempt, he would lose the game. If he succeeded, he would enter the next height.

Muller could choose to pass on the height. He could use his last attempt and challenge the next height.

”How about we pass the height?” asked Dai Li.

Muller didn't answer him directly but, instead, said, ”Coach, the next height is 6.13m. I have never jumped that high before. Even in my training, I have never tried that height.”

”Franz, listen to me, if you fail at the height of 6.08m, you will lose the game and you only receive a silver medal. If you succeed, you would face the height of 6.13m anyway. So, why don't we avoid the possibility of failure in the third attempt and directly challenge 6.13m high? Kurayev cleared the height of 6.08m, and if you want to defeat him and win the gold medal, you must jump over 6.13m high!” said Dai Li.

”I have no confidence. I've never tried that height before,” said Muller hesitantly.

”I believe in you!” Dai Li patted Muller on his shoulder. ”You never attended the Olympic qualifiers, but I still ignored over all dissenting views and recruited you onto the national team. Do you know why? Because I believe in you! I believe you will be the dominate the men's pole vault for the next decade, and today is only your first step. All you need to do is have faith in yourself. Don't hesitate and don't be afraid. Today, 6.13m high is just a small challenge to you. In the future, you must be able to break the world record. Now, you only need to believe that you are the best!”

…

A glow of excitement shown on Merkulov's face. He said, ”That American guy chose to pass on the height! It looks like we can celebrate the victory ahead of time!”

”Yes, both of his two attempts were failed at height of 6.08m. How dare he try the height of 6.13m!” said the deputy head coach Igonagave.

”6.08m high is the new Olympic record now, 0.11m higher than before. I don't know whether Kurayev has the interest to rewrite the record again,” said Merkulov.

Muller chose to pass on the height. Therefore, both of them had to challenge the height of 6.13m. However, Muller only had one attempt. If he failed, he had no scores both in the height of 6.08m and 6.13m. Since Kurayev had cleared the height of 6.08m, he would win the championship without attempting the height of 6.13m if Muller's attempt failed.

However, according to the rules, if Muller's attempt failed, Kurayev still had three attempts. He could continue to try the height of 6.13m and even higher levels if he wanted to.Then his challenge would not be about the gold medal but about the new Olympic Games record.

This was all assuming that Muller couldn't clear 6.13m.

...

Muller had never tried this height in his training.

Dai Li also knew that if Muller wanted to clear that height, he must outdo himself. Just as Igonagave said, if he couldn't jump over 6.08m, how could he make 6.13.

Now, Dai Li only could pray that luck would come to him.

A perfect balance! He must have perfect balance! Dai Li prayed in his heart.

In fact, Dai Li knew that even Muller if had just the right balance, he still might not clear the height of 6.13m. Although Muller's talent level was S+, he was too young. Besides, he had only been trained by Dai Li for one month. He was not yet the king of the pole vault.

”But maybe you will be crowned for the first time today!” murmured Dai Li.

...

Looking ahead of him, Muller's face seemed extremely calm. Instead of feeling nervous, he felt excited and expectant.

Muller moved, he started to accelerate, and then he made a series of technical movements of pole vault. He had done that for numerous times. He could skillfully complete this movements even sleepwalking.

As Muller's body was rising in the air, the bar was coming closer and closer.

6.13m is really high! Suddenly, Muller had a strong will take over him. He must clear this jump!

The expectation turned into the faith to win as the excitement turned into the desire for victory. At this time, a kind of potential seemed to unlock in Muller's body. In the face of the desperate situation, he really exerted extraordinary strength.

Perhaps this was the special ability of a king!

Finally, Muller's hands were off the pole. He was like a dancer, performing his most elegant dance!

Perfect! Dai Li unclenched his fists. Although Muller's body had not crossed over the bar yet, Dai Li could see that Muller would make it!

A second later, Muller had successfully cleared the bar.