"...So fast!""Wait! Is he...doing the b.u.t.terfly stroke?"Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
"b.u.t.terfly?! What... Tang Yan"s actually using the b.u.t.terfly stroke!"
...
Even Guo Yong was stunned, his mouth so wide open you could fit an egg in it. Okay maybe not that wide open.
Whilst the front crawl wasn"t the stipulated stroke for freestyle, it was the recognized favourite and for good reason. Even FINA recognized it as the fastest stroke, followed by b.u.t.terfly, backstroke and b.r.e.a.s.t.stroke.
But Tang Yan chose the b.u.t.terfly stroke and whilst still trailing he was keeping up to pace with Tian Yang.
One meter, two meters, three meters...
In a blink of an eye, Tang Yan was beginning to match Tian Yang.
Gou Yong"s face became scrunched up in confusion then realization, whilst studying Tang Yan"s stroke style.
Tang Yan was doing a hybrid b.u.t.terfly-crawl. A mixture of the two styles.
He had changed from the front crawl he used in the first race.
Guo Yong looked down at the stopwatch in his hand, looking down he sucked in a breath.
This speed...!
He looked over at the two again, Tang Yan seemingly becoming more comfortable was neck to neck with Tian Yang.
It was indeed a b.u.t.terfly hybrid, the speed of his movement was exceptional and what was more noticeable was his stroke distance. When he moved out, he travelled a greater distance than you would expect for his height. 5ft with each arm stroke.
Having observed his previously flimsy understanding for the sport see him doing such a technically demanding style surprised Guo Yong greatly.
He still showed novice level errors even now though.
For example in his breathing, he was coming up to breathe late and consequently finis.h.i.+ng breathing late and as a right side breather, his left arm came too far wide at the front causing a front crossover with his breathing arm.
Even his start needed improvement. But seeing his apt.i.tude Guo Yong was intrigued.
But then suddenly Tang Yan seemingly trying to integrate another stroke into his pattern messed up his rhythm.
He missed a half step throwing him off, though he tried to recover, it was enough to cost him.
Tian Yang crept away slightly, seemingly fazed by this Tang Yan transitioned into the standard front crawl stroke in an attempt to close the gap.
But with just 10 meters left, the damage was already done. Tian Yang maintained the lead and won, touching the wall first.
On sh.o.r.e, Guo Yong quickly pressed the stopwatch at the moment of Tian Yang"s touch.
23 seconds 46!
Then again for Tang Yan"s finish.
25 seconds 47!
When he saw this result, Guo Yong"s face couldn"t help but jitter.
So fast!
Even with errors!
If it weren"t for the last few meters, he could have been even faster and if they buffed out his mistakes...!
With his thoughts running high, Guo Yong had a bright smile.
In the just-concluded Asian Games, Lü Zhiwu who won the 50m freestyle, had gotten a time of 22 seconds 37.
Although the difference was more than 2 seconds, the key thing to remember was that Tang Yan himself had just knocked off 2 seconds off his previous time just now.
Tian Yang swam to the poolside still panting. His performance this time was his best this season.
"You are remarkably fast." He gasped looking over at Tang Yan.
Tang Yan smiled and said "Right back at you" and then climbed up from the pool.
Guo Yong was staring at Tang Yan as he got out, his fervent excitement cooling before turning to a reluctant gaze.
Tang Yan walked up and said: "Coach, my time..."
"25.47 seconds"
"Oh wow!"
"Yeah, wow indeed"
"That one felt a lot smoother, I messed up...towards the end though."
"Yeah I saw, you still have a lot of mistakes that need correcting."
"I understand Coach, I am ready and willing to learn."
"That"s good to hear, I"m sure they"ll be glad to hear that on the provincial team."
Seeing Tang Yan"s confused and perplexed gaze.
Guo Yong said: "You want to compete at a higher level right, I doubt you got Old Qin running around just to compete at a city level.
With a time like this I"m sure they"ll be more than happy to have you. Knowing them I wouldn"t be surprised if they found you after and offered you a place. Bunch of vultures."
"Anyway you want a place or what?"
"Ughh...yes. Yes I want a place"
"Good, it"ll save me training you up just to have you s.n.a.t.c.hed away later."
....
"Coach, how come Tang Yan isn"t entering the team? Such a talent, if we let him go it will definitely be a big loss to the team." Tian Yang said to Guo Yong after Tang Yan had left.
"He"s off to the provincial team, that kid is too much of a monster to be kept hidden here. Those hyenas would sniff him out eventually anyway, better to report him in and get credit for sending him up."
"Plus with him, it"s another boost to the dream team they"re trying to form. Anyway let"s talk about you, your time today was good. When are you gonna head back to the....