Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 657: Smart move, unexpected results (4K)

"Chen...why do you come to our Serbian accommodation building every day?"

"Do you have to be so anxious to come here every day?"

Djokovic was quite helpless. He felt that he had been used as a light bulb more times in these few days than in his entire life.

Chen Ran's face darkened, and he pointed to the distance and replied: "Novak, isn't your room over there? Why do you always come to the female athletes' side? I'm going to tell your girlfriend!"

“…” Djokovic touched his head, “Okay, I’ll go.”

He could only leave with a wry smile.

Djokovic was very sure that Chen Ran would definitely do this.

At the same time, another Serbian female athlete who shared a room with Ivanovic complained: "Why don't you let Ana go to the dormitory of your Huaxia team? Why do you always come here?"

"Because... this has a bad influence." Chen Ran said very frankly.

If a foreign horse appeared in the accommodation building where the Chinese team was staying every day, it would indeed cause a lot of unnecessary trouble and would also affect everyone's preparations for the Olympics.

Chen Ran doesn't want to be criticized by the media.

But it’s different here. You can actually think of the Olympics as a large party, and the Olympic Village is where the party takes place.

There are basically European delegations everywhere here, and men and women visiting each other, and once the atmosphere is right, it is really a very common thing.

Just to leave an unforgettable memory during the Olympic Games.

Therefore, the number of condoms used in every Olympic Games reaches a new high.

So Chen Ran naturally regarded the accommodation building in Serbia as his date place.

Anyway, he was not the only one who did this, so it was not conspicuous.

"How much time do you need today?" asked the female athlete who shared the same dormitory with Ivanovich. "Is half an hour enough?"

"Half an hour? Are you kidding? How can you look down on me?" Chen Ran frowned, looking displeased.

"Only an hour at most. I need to rest!" the female athlete protested. "Last few times, you guys dated for too long."

"An hour? Okay, just barely." Chen Ran made an "OK" gesture, while Ivanovich covered his mouth and chuckled.

The female athlete walked out helplessly.

Chen Ran patted the single bed beside his feet and said proudly: "It is worthy of being made in our great country. The quality is excellent and can withstand high-intensity fierce battles."

You have to know that in the following Olympic Games, the quality of the beds in the Olympic Village was really worrying. It seemed like they would collapse at any time, let alone expect the beds to be strong.

"One hour. We are very short on time. Come up quickly." The Serbian beauty lay on the bed shyly, then hooked her finger at Chen Ran, "Don't forget, we need to restrain ourselves during the game."

Chen Ran reached behind his back and pulled down the curtains.

During every Olympic Games, the situation in the Olympic Village can be described in four words: constant fire!
……

Time quickly came to the day of the opening ceremony. Chen Ran was waiting in the lounge with the Chinese delegation, and from time to time he looked up at the TV hanging above.

There were many, many televisions in the lounge, all playing footage from the opening ceremony.

It has to be said that the opening ceremony of the Yanjing Olympic Games was indeed the largest in terms of scale and grandeur among all the Olympic Games.

Not to mention previous sessions, even future sessions will not be able to surpass it.

The picture is gorgeous and majestic, and full of a strong sense of historical vicissitudes.

However, from Chen Ran's perspective, he does not think that the grand and successful opening ceremony was all thanks to Zhang Yimou, but mainly due to the money spent.

It is said that there is no upper limit on the funding for this opening ceremony.

Now that the money is in place, what grand opening ceremony can’t be planned?

At this time, Liu Xiang walked up to Chen Ran and asked, "I heard that you often go to the dormitory building in Serbia to see your girlfriend these days?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? I didn't spend the night outside!" Chen Ran said confidently, "No one said we can't go on dates during these few days."

"You have a really good attitude. I've been so nervous these days!" Liu Xiang was also convinced and could only give Chen Ran a thumbs up.

Chen Ran glanced at the other person's ankle and then asked, "Are you okay?"

"It's just a minor injury, it doesn't matter. As an athlete, every athlete gets injured." Liu Xiang said nonchalantly.

Chen Ran also knew that in terms of physical condition, Liu Xiang could not compare to the 2004 Athens Olympics, and he had also been resting for a period of time in between.

But the other party seemed to have figured it out. Even if I didn't win the championship, it wouldn't be the end of the world, and it would be difficult for me to have a successor in the future.

It is unique.

The two chatted for a while, and outside the Bird's Nest Stadium, there was a roar like thunder from time to time, it was very lively.

"You see Yao Ming is very nervous. It's his first time raising the flag." Liu Xiang joked, pointing at the huge figure at the front of the team.

Hehe, this is where Chen Ran’s cleverness lies.

He was the flag bearer at the last Olympics in Athens, so there was nothing to be nervous about and it was quite relaxing. He could even admire the gorgeous Greek beauties along the way.

But this time it was in Yanjing, in front of the home audience and media, as well as hundreds of millions of viewers in front of their televisions.

Countless pairs of eyes are staring at you.

The pressure involved can be imagined.

This invisible energy consumption is very scary and may even affect your competitive state.

Chen Ran was very smart and decisively gave the flag bearer opportunity to Yao Ming.

Yao Ming lacked experience as a flag bearer at the Athens Olympics, so he was extremely nervous. Especially as the weather in Yanjing was so hot and humid, beads of sweat kept dripping down his face.

Big guy, I hope this doesn’t affect your performance in future games.

But then again, from Chen Ran's perspective, what's the difference between being eliminated in the group stage and barely qualifying, and then being beaten again by your opponent in the quarter-finals?
Just buy one more ticket.

Can Chinese basketball learn a lesson from this game?

No! They only indulge in the current situation and never think about how to go further and reach the top like the football next door, which is always eliminated in the top 16 of the World Cup again and again.

This is not the beginning, but the peak, and it will fall off a cliff later.

While Chen Ran was in a trance, the large army began to move.

A huge group of people, including athletes, totaling more than 1000 people, stepped onto the Bird's Nest Stadium.

Suddenly, thunderous cheers came from all directions.

In every Olympic Games, the host country is the last to appear and enjoys the warmest cheers.

Every member of the delegation, including Chen Ran, raised their hands and waved the small national flags.

The scene was very lively.

Chen Ran walked in the middle of the team, feeling a sense of pride.

This feeling is so wonderful that it cannot even be described in words, even though I have achieved great success in professional tennis.

"In my previous life, I could only stand in front of the TV and watch the opening ceremony, but this time, I also participated in it as a member of the delegation." "Life is worth it!"

At this time, the camera lens responsible for the broadcast was aimed directly at Chen Ran's face, and the picture of him alone appeared on the big screen of the Bird's Nest Stadium.

At the opening ceremony of the Olympics, few athletes can get such a one-of-a-kind exclusive shot, unless you are a superstar.

Suddenly, countless cheers rang out, and everyone shouted Chen Ran's name loudly.

The atmosphere in the whole venue reached its climax at this moment.

This is superstar treatment.

As for Chen Ran himself, he did not seem panicked by this sudden scene.

He waved to the camera very calmly and naturally, with an elegant smile.

This is superstar style!
Then came the torch lighting ceremony, which was exactly the same as the process in the previous life.

Legendary gymnast Li Ning danced in space holding the torch, then lit the Olympic flame, announcing the successful conclusion of the opening ceremony of this Olympic Games.

Chen Ran knew very well that this moment was the peak of Li Ning's personal career and also the peak of Li Ning's company.

Looking at Li Ning, who was standing in the center of the venue with a bright smile on his face and enjoying the worship of the whole audience, he realized a truth in his heart: the current peak does not mean the eternal peak.

Who could have imagined that the future would be so unpredictable?

The once inconspicuous Anta will eventually become an existence that is out of reach for Li Ning.

"Remember, no one can stay at the top forever, and you must always remain vigilant and humble." Chen Ran muttered to himself.

He was not as excited as the athletes around him, but always maintained a relatively calm mood.

Perhaps that kind of excitement only lasts for a moment, flashes through the heart, and soon calms down.

Then, Chen Ran observed his surroundings calmly.

To be honest, many countries like to use athletes from the world's more influential mainstream sports as their country's flag bearers. Since football has an age limit of U23, basketball and tennis players are very popular.

The flag bearer for Argentina is basketball star Ginobili, the flag bearer for Spain is basketball star Gasol, and the flag bearer for Germany is also basketball star Nowitzki.

Of course, it also includes Yao Ming from the Chinese delegation.

There are many tennis players serving as flag bearers. Switzerland has Federer, Spain has Nadal, and Serbia has also chosen Djokovic. The flag bearer for Belgium is Christies because Henin has retired.

Sharapova, who was originally going to be the flag bearer of Russia at the 2012 London Olympics, became the flag bearer of the Russian delegation four years ahead of schedule because she did not withdraw from the Yanjing Olympics.

However, in the tennis circle, many people were shocked that Chen Ran did not become the flag bearer of the Chinese delegation, and some even wanted to come over and ask about it.

"You are the number one professional tennis player of all time. Why did your country give the flag bearer position to a basketball player whose career is far inferior to yours?"

"Because I was elected once four years ago, I can't always monopolize this opportunity."

Chen Ran looked at Yao Ming, who was always a little nervous and reserved, and couldn't help thinking in his heart.

It felt like today's Olympic opening ceremony was longer than usual.

This also caused the flag bearer to hold the flag longer than usual.

Chen Ran was still somewhat glad that he gave up this opportunity.

He was in a very good mood and was observing his surroundings leisurely.

In general, most athletes came to the competition with the mentality of focusing on participation, so everyone was jumping around.

"Your Majesty!"

Chen Ran walked over and patted Wang Liqin on the shoulder, "Don't be so nervous, relax a little."

This guy has had a tense face since he entered the scene.

It seems like the pressure is too great.

Frankly speaking, the loss of the men's singles gold medal in table tennis at the last Athens Olympics was due to carelessness, a low-probability accident. This time, with the three insurances in place, it shouldn't be a big problem at all.

Of course, the biggest problem is still internal strife.

All three of them want to win the championship.

No one is willing to give in.

In terms of outside technical analysis, everyone has always believed that Wang Liqin has the strongest overall strength and the greatest possibility of winning the championship.

This also caused Wang Liqin to be under great pressure.

After all, this is the Olympics, not the World Championships or the World Cup. For table tennis players, the Olympics is everything.

The difference in strength between Chinese athletes is minimal.

In a game, a slight change in mentality may play a decisive role.

Fortunately, there are no fan clubs in this era. If everyone is a Chinese athlete, the audience will cheer for both sides.

“There’s no fan club!”

Chen Ran suddenly remembered a rumor from his previous life.

Why did table tennis, as our national sport, develop such a crazy fan culture in later generations?

The traffic that those table tennis players have on the Internet has even exceeded that of the top-tier traffic stars in the entertainment industry.

Many experts are also puzzled and continue to analyze the issue.

Other sports are not as crazy as table tennis.

"Who among you three has the most fans?" Chen Ran suddenly asked.

"It should be me at the moment." Wang Liqin thought for a moment and said affirmatively.

"Oh..." Chen Ran nodded, thoughtfully.

After a while, he quipped, "What about female fans? Who have the most?"

"The other one, surnamed Wang, looks like a pretty boy." Wang Liqin curled his lips.

Chen Ran also laughed when he heard this.

"The more female fans there are, the greater the pressure, so he has more pressure than you. Because female fans tend to be more involved than male fans, and they are more involved in their emotions, which may affect the players themselves."

Wang Liqin frowned slightly, as if he understood something.

But Chen Ran didn't realize that not far away from them, Liang Zi, the national table tennis coach, heard their conversation and seemed to be thinking about something.

"Female fans...female fans..."

Liangzi muttered to himself, and his eyes became brighter and brighter.

Chen Ran didn't know that because of the joke between him and Wang Liqin, the fan culture of the national table tennis team came into being ten years earlier.

……

(End of this chapter)