They promised to win the swimming championship, but what's with this "Grand Slam" thi

Chapter 15: The Champion Team!

As it turns out, even when Wu Jin is extremely hungry, she can't afford to spend 500 yuan at Little Sheep Hot Pot these days.

Not to mention half a cow.

The two of them ate over 200 yuan and were already stuffed.

In 03, the cost of living in Hangzhou was already quite high, but it wasn't as outrageous as it is now, where a casual meal could cost 400 or 500 yuan.

"Mom, how is it? Is it delicious?"

Wu Jin thought it was just so-so, but the beef and mutton were alright, and she ate about several kilograms of them.

Xu Wanqin ate with relish, saying that she would bring Wu Jin's father over next time.

The couple had always been very loving since Wu Jin could remember, and they rarely scolded or beat him.

Even though his middle school and high school exam results weren't ideal, the two of them were afraid to touch on the knot in his heart; because they knew very well that swimming had always been an insurmountable obstacle in Wu Jin's heart, and that he had simply given up on himself.

By the time older people realize this, it's already too late.

Wu Jin could have been admitted to a sports university as a swimming specialist in high school and become a physical education teacher like his father, but he was very averse to swimming during that period.

Unexpectedly, he ultimately chose swimming as his profession.

This thing, just like quantum entanglement, has already entangled Wu Jin's past life... and this life as well.

"I must say, this hot pot is really delicious!"

"That's convenient, we should be able to do it at home, right?"

"The seasoning might not taste as good as what you get in a restaurant!"

Xu Wanqin continued talking, still savoring the moment, before the two of them paid and left the hot pot restaurant.

Tomorrow morning, Chen Jinglun's teacher will take them to the provincial team for a month-long training camp, in order to participate in the Barcelona World Swimming Championships qualifiers and the National Swimming Championships to be held in Tianjin on April 15.

All domestic swimmers vying for spots in this year's World Swimming Championships and next year's Athens Olympics will participate.

This competition is undoubtedly a gathering of top athletes, including national and world champions who have won gold medals, as well as many future Olympic champions.

As for the new generation like Wu Jin and Sun Yang, the purpose is naturally to let them experience the grand scale of the competition in advance.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will all eventually emerge from the championship.

"Mom, if you have some free time, try to learn more about accounting from your aunt, and ask your uncle if he knows any law firms or anything like that!"

On the way back, Wu Jin suddenly said something to Xu Wanqin.

"why?"

Xu Wanqin was still a little puzzled.

"We'll need it in the future, so let's plan ahead!"

During dinner, Xu Wanqin felt that her son had matured a lot and was more capable than his mother, knowing everything about swimming.

"You've only just joined the provincial team, and you're already thinking about all this nonsense. Train hard and listen to the coach!"

Xu Wanqin still didn't understand why Wu Jin had asked her to do this.

"Of course I know that!"

"If I become a professional athlete, I will need my own management team!"

"You don't want me to date anyone else, do you?"

"I definitely want you to help me!"

It's common practice in the sports world for professional athletes to have their parents act as their agents, both domestically and internationally.

However, there are both advantages and disadvantages, and the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

The normal practice is to involve your parents in your management team.

Having one or two trustworthy people, but with a professional management team, working together to support the athlete, is the best model for success.

Wu Jin told his mother about this at this time to give her a heads-up, as it might come in handy in the future.

If we wait until he becomes famous to start learning, it will be too late; we can only begin now.

"understood!"

"You're starting to boss your mother around now?"

Xu Wanqin muttered something, but didn't say anything more.

Back home, Wu Jin was plunged into the agonizing task of doing his homework. Luckily, he was only a primary school student; if it were middle school, even this 30-something-year-old would probably struggle.

These days, junior and senior high school homework is getting harder every year.

Silent all night.

The next day, Wu Jin asked his mother to ask for leave from school, while he ran to Chen Jinglun Sports School.

When he arrived at the sports school, he saw a minibus parked at the entrance, which should be the one that takes them to the provincial team.

The Zhejiang Provincial Swimming Team was located in the old National Fitness Center, which veteran athletes commonly referred to as "Team One," not far from Chen Jinglun, about 4 kilometers away on foot. This center was very old and dilapidated, with only one swimming pool, and the training conditions were quite harsh.

However, the provincial team moved to the sports academy two years later, where the facilities and equipment were much more complete.

Moreover, many years later, the provincial team will relocate again, achieving a qualitative leap. It will become the second largest swimming pool in China after the Water Cube, capable of hosting major competitions. Its full name is Zhejiang Provincial Swimming Training Base.

These achievements are the result of generations of Zhejiang Province swimmers and coaches earning their gold medals.

Now Wu Jin obviously can't enjoy that anymore, so she can only go to the place where her swimming dream in Zhejiang Province began - No. 153 Tiyuchang Road, the place where the coaches of the future golden generation of Chinese swimming Olympic champions were born.

Coaches like Ye Shiwen, Sun Yang, Pan Zhanle, and Wang Shun all came from here.

I won't say anything more!

"Once I'm in the provincial team, I need to be even more strict with myself!"

"..."

On the way to the provincial team, Wu Xiajun, the head coach of Chen Jinglun's swimming department, talked to Wu Jin and others about some key points of the provincial team. Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the "First Team".

She led the team off the bus, where a coach was already waiting.

Zhu Zhigen is not among them. He has a long tenure in the provincial team, so he shouldn't need to be personally involved in this kind of matter.

"This is Coach Wu Ying, who used to be at our Chen Jinglun Sports School!"

Wu Xiajun spoke to the group of athletes behind her.

"Hello, Coach Wu!"

Coach Wu!

"..."

A group of people immediately greeted him respectfully.

"Alright, alright, come on, follow me. I'll take you to your dorms first, put your things away, and then I'll take you to the venue!"

Wu Ying was smiling there, looking very warm and friendly.

Wu Jin is also very familiar with this person.

One of the future meritorious coaches of the Zhejiang Provincial Swimming Team, and also a national-level coach, he trained the famous "meme" 50-meter backstroke world champion Fu Yuanhui, the female athlete who can use prehistoric power.

He's quite famous online; he's one of his disciples.

"The conditions at the provincial team are a bit tough; they only have dormitories for eight people!"

"You guys are all from Chen Jinglun Sports School, so you've been grouped together!"

After Wu Ying and Wu Jin finished putting away their things, they led them toward the provincial team's training ground.

Sun Yang was clearly not very satisfied with the accommodation. Wu Jin noticed this as soon as he entered the dormitory. Apart from training, this kid hadn't really suffered much in his daily life.

There's a reason why the future might be so rebellious.

Splash, beep beep beep—

Before even entering the training venue, I could hear the coaches' shouts, whistles, and splashes of water coming from inside, making it quite lively.

Sun Yang, who had been looking unhappy, had completely forgotten about the dormitory after hearing these noises and was now eager to go to the training venue.

"Oh, a new person has arrived?"

"Haha, little brothers and sisters!"

"Then the last two probably haven't developed yet, right?"

"Wow, impressive! Getting into the provincial team at this age... Old Zheng, you're a 30-year-old veteran, your chances are in jeopardy!"

"Hahaha!"

Several provincial team athletes who were training there started joking around when they saw Wu Jin and the others come in.

Wu Ying walked towards a slightly overweight middle-aged man wearing a coach's uniform.

Zhang Yadong!
The current head coach of the Zhejiang Provincial Swimming Team is also a graduate of the Chen Jinglun Sports School.

He is also the deputy head coach of the Chinese national swimming team, a position with exceptional qualifications.

"Old Zhang, the people are here. Let's assign them coaches!"

As Wu Ying spoke to Zhang Yadong, Zhang Yadong, who had been facing the pool, turned around, smiled at Wu Ying, and then clapped his hands: "Alright, everyone stop for a moment, let me introduce the new team members!"

"Let's get to know everyone and assign coaches while we're at it!"

As Zhang Yadong spoke, he instructed people to come ashore and gather by the pool.

The first thing Wu Jin saw was a figure that was all too familiar.

Luo Xuejuan, China's breaststroke queen, the 100-meter breaststroke champion at next year's Athens Olympics, and a three-time world champion at this year's Barcelona Swimming Championships!

(End of this chapter)