537 The Power of the Luckiest Draw (2/2)

Eventually, she rushed into the passing zone and handed the relay baton over to the fourth runner.

The fourth runner from the U.S. ran out of the passing zone while the Jamaican team was still in the process of passing the baton.

Although the Jamaican team was very powerful, they could do nothing about a two-second gap.

Without the threat of the Jamaican team, the U.S. team was the most powerful contender.

After entering into the last leg of the race, the U.S. team acquired a huge lead. They were nearly half a second ahead of the team in second.

”We did it!” Dai Li was relieved and, eventually, looked at the Jamaican team.

The champion of the hundred-meters dash was in last, but she didn't give up and still exerted herself in an attempt to catch up, despite knowing it was useless.

What happened in their second changeover? Dai Li wondered.

The U.S. team whose speed was 41.36s was the first to break the tape and if Halyna hadn't made such a mistake, it might have been 41'. The mistake cost 0.3 seconds.

The Jamaican team, which had been most likely to win, came in last.

When the U.S. athletes hugged to celebrate their victory, the big screen showed a replay of Halyna making her mistake. Then, it showed what happened in the Jamaican team's changeover.

The replay showed that the relay baton was flying towards the Jamaica athletes when they were passing the baton. To take back the relay baton, Halyna bent forward to grab it, right in the direction of the Jamaican athletes.

The two Jamaican athletes were in their changeover when Halyna seemed to run towards them so they dodged instinctively, missing their best chance at the changeover.

The two experienced athletes realized it immediately and they decided to do baton exchange again. They didn't cooperate with each other well, and the runner about to receive baton reached her hand back but the runner behind her didn't hand it over in time. Then, when the one handing over the baton was ready, the runner ahead didn't open her hand.

It was similar to how when a car and pedestrian come to a crosswalk at the same time and they both stop to let the other go. Then, both attempt to go at the same time.

After missing the best chance at the changeover, both of them wanted to compromise with the other. They hadn't been able to complete the changeover by the end of the passing zone.

The big screen showed the scene again and again and Dai Li finally figured out to the Jamaican team.

”That's it? Unbelievable!” Dai Li said, filled with surprise.

Suddenly, Dai Li realized that without Halyna's fault, the Jamaican team wouldn't have been interrupted. They might have finished the changeover instead of making such a fatal mistake.

If the Jamaican team had avoided the fault, it would have been hard to predict whether the Jamaican team or the U.S. team would have one.

It was Halyna's fault that interrupted the Jamaican team, which led to their defeat.

Dai Li shook his head and the ”Luckiest Draw” came back into his mind. He finally realized why the prediction box said Halyna Bob was the most suitable one to be the third runner.

”Without their mistake, we really don't know if we would have won or not. Halyna being the third runner was really the best choice!”

Donny looked at the big screen, astonished.

He had always thought the U.S. team could win, but he had never thought they would win in this way.

Mr. Li put Halyna in third, what a wonderful result it is! Donny looked at Dai Li and it occurred to him that the coach might have arranged it in advance.

”It can't be a tactic designed in advance. If the opponent hadn't been interrupted and Halyna did lose the baton, it would've been a disaster. No coach would have such a risky strategy.”

In the athletes' lounge, Alexander and Ford watched the TV, amazed.

”I can't believe a team can win like this! Was it arranged in advance?” Alexander mumbled to himself.

”It couldn't have been arranged in advance! How could it be possible to arrange for an athlete to lose her baton,” Ford said.

”If that wasn't arranged in advance, then why did Coach Li put Halyna in third? She did make a mistake, wasn't it a terrible idea?” Alexander replied.

”How could it be possible? Coach Li does not make bad decisions. His choices are always the best!” Ford shook his head.

”So I guess it was planned in advance. Maybe the Jamaicans' mistake was part of his plan as well,” Alexander muttered.

The athletes beside Alexander looked at him and wondered what was wrong with this new hundred-meter champion.

What kind of idiot would believe a coach would purposely put in an athlete planning for them to make a mistake?

Everyone in Jamaica was deeply upset.

Losing in this way was difficult for them to accept.

Jamaica was supposed to get the gold medal, but they didn't even get any medal.

Seeing the picture slowed down on the big screen, Fraser couldn't control his emotions anymore and got angry.

”That is U.S. athlete ruined the race. Our two athletes can't be interrupted! I have a complaint. I am about to file it to the IOC, the U.S. team meant to do that!”