Chinese Athlete Completes 100 Metres a Year in Advance
Praise for Zhao's cunning has been forthcoming from all prospective competing nations. Former Gold-medallist Daley Thompson was quick to give Zhao the thumbs-up.
"That's the kind of thinking that champions need to succeed," said the hunky runner, "To get that extra edge, sometimes you need to take a chance and hit your stride a nanosecond before the gun in the hope the officials won't notice. Or, in this case, a year before. And with no officials or other competitors."
While some have deemed Zhao's bold dash 'unfair' and in breach of protocol, Beijing authorities pointed out there was nothing preventing other international athletes from running the race.
"We made announcements in the Renmin Ribao, and other prominent State-controlled newspapers," said Party spokesperson Wai Binlin, "If Western nations can't be bothered to publish these, it is no concern of ours. It is common knowledge that our Olympic facilities have been ready to receive athletes for some time. So why not start the Games now? I would advise other nations to get their skates on. There are no medals for the slowest competitors."
London Olympic Committee representatives were quick to respond to the sporting gauntlet thrown down by Beijing, and opened two London stadia to athletes who will be competing in the 2012 Olympiad. Many were taken from classes at primary school to train.
"China is moving fast, and no nation can afford to be left behind." said organiser Sebastian Coe to someone he didn't know was a journalist, "If we think like them, and start ruthlessly drilling athletes from ages at which their bones have yet to strengthen until the excel or die, maybe those prize pig athletes from the USA will be grinning on the other side of their fat, steroid-fed faces when we cream them in the 100 metres."
"Hey, you're not going to print this, are you?" he added.
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