Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion-Chapter 886 - 632: The First Gold Medal

Ancient Olympia Stadium, the second round of the men's shot put event is underway.

Link's first throw in the second round marks 21.14 meters, once again breaking the Asian men's shot put record and setting a personal best in the event.

But in this competition, this result still ranks behind the Ukrainian athlete Bilonog and the American athlete Adam Nelson.

As the second-to-last athlete to compete in the second round, to win a medal, he will need to put up even better results.

Second round, second throw.

Link finishes warming up and, at the judge's signal, holds the shot put and continues to execute the glide technique, using the full stretch-reflex action of his body to summon all his strength and push the shot at the last moment.

"Go!"

After gathering his energy, Link shouts fiercely, twists his body, palms supporting the shot put, and pushes it out with force.

The shot put traces a parabola through the air and slams onto the grass within the 21-meter zone, dirt flying.

The on-site measuring official enters the triangulated area to plant the flag and measure the distance.

Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators at the venue and on TV, Link's throw is announced to be—21.16 meters.

"How much? 21.16 meters?!"

Upon hearing this result, Coach Li Yabing's body shakes, followed by a surge of immense surprise bursting out from his heart.

According to Olympic shot put competition rules, each athlete typically gets six throwing opportunities, with the best result taken as their final score. If two or more athletes' best results are the same, their second-best results will determine the places.

Link's current first best result is 21.16 meters, his second best is 21.14 meters.

Meanwhile, the current leading Ukrainian athlete Bilonog's first best result is 21.16 meters, his second best is 21.08 meters.

Given this situation, if the eighth athlete doesn't create a miracle, Link has a great chance of winning a gold medal.

A gold medal in the shot put event!

This would be the first shot put gold medal for both Huaxia and Asia in the Olympic track and field competition.

The weight of its significance is immense.

"Fantastic, well done Link!"

"Link has made a notable contribution today."

"Congratulations, Coach Lee, you've become a champion coach!"

"Yeah, Coach Lee, remember to treat us!"

The adjacent track and field coaches cheer for Link and then turn to look at Coach Li Yabing, immediately showing envious and jealous expressions.

This jealousy is very normal and reasonable.

Link is a junior this year and had rested for most of last year; all things considered, he's only trained with Coach Li Yabing for two years.

Coach Li Yabing is, in essence, a champion coach by sheer luck.

How could that not make the old coaches, who have trained track athletes for over a decade without producing a champion, green with envy?

Everyone is red with envy; if only they had known how formidable Link was last year, they would've done everything to transfer him to the National Track and Field Team training base instead of letting him grow vaguely at the Sports University.

"Er, haha, let's be happy together, but let's not get too excited just yet. There's still one athlete left; let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Coach Li Yabing says, forcefully suppressing the smile at the corner of his mouth.

"It won't be for nothing; even if the Australian athlete pulls off an upset, Link will still get a silver medal. For our Track and Field Team, it's still a cause for celebration," say the other coaches.

Li Yabing nods repeatedly, then turns around and laughs heartily.

"Link, awesome!"

"Good on you, Link!"

"Link, you're our pride."

After Link's second throw results were announced, hundreds of Huaxia spectators cheer loudly at the scene, and the athletes from the Huaxia Team also applaud Link's performance.

Hearing his results, Link also feels exhilarated, but the competition isn't over yet; celebrating too early could lead to a champagne-celebration-at-half-time type of embarrassment.

He takes a deep breath, steadies his emotions, bends down to pick up another shot put, and prepares for the third throw.

Though the current result would earn him a medal, his goal is to break the Olympic and world records in the shot put event, to leave an important mark in the history of world athletics, and to bring glory to his nation.

So faced with these achievements, he will not settle easily.

The judge signals to prepare.

Link holds the shot put, rotates backwards and bends down, kicking with the left leg first, then extending the right leg, and with the body forming a lateral arch and the powerful support of the left leg, fully utilizes the leg-extension strength to twist his hips and body, then propelling forward with his right chest, accelerating the shot put.

This is the core part of the glide technique in shot putting, and the part that Link practices the most—from holding the shot, gliding, transitioning, to the final push, hundreds of times every day from last year to this year.

With his extraordinary athletic talent, it took more than a hundred thousand practices to reach his current level.

As the body completes a series of throwing movements, all the force in his body gathers in his arm, similar to storing energy in boxing.

Link shouts angrily, taking advantage of the shoulder rotation, forcefully propels the shot put.

The 7.26kg shot put flies in a long parabola under the gaze of countless onlookers, eventually hitting the ground with a thud.

It lands in the 21-meter zone, seemingly farther than the previous throw, but the exact distance beyond needs to be measured.

So when the two officials enter the triangulated area, countless Huaxia spectators in the stands and in front of TVs are closely watching the silvery grey shot put.

"21.18 meters!"

The on-site referee announces.

Hum!

After the result is revealed, the spectators immediately stir, excitedly shouting Link's name. For a moment, the stands are filled with fluttering red flags and non-stop cheers.