Chapter 30: Wang Xiaoming Broke the Rules? Is He About to Be Disqualified?

With the race nearly halfway through, Wang Xiaoming was accelerating fiercely. However, none of the competitors were weak; they were the elite representatives of their respective nations. In a global event like the Olympic Games, no one would dare to lower their guard. Even if it meant exhausting every ounce of their strength, they were determined to secure a ranking for their country. Consequently, by the time Wang reached fifth place, it had become extremely difficult to effortlessly overtake the swimmers ahead of him to improve his position. With half the distance already covered, the competition was only set to intensify. Everyone was filled with anticipation, wondering how Wang would handle this second half of the race.

People had envisioned countless strategies Wang might use to navigate the crisis, yet they were still caught completely off guard by his next move. Upon turning, he dived deep into the water with a powerful plunge. At first, this didn't seem strange to the spectators, but as time passed, more and more people realized something was amiss.

"Look, we see contestant Wang Xiaoming diving straight into the water!" the CCTV commentator exclaimed. "What is he trying to do? Could he be attempting to swim underwater to close the gap with the leaders? Incredible, truly incredible—he actually intends to do this! Is he crazy? Has he lost his mind?"

Wang's decision to submerge stunned everyone—the live audience, the trackside officials, and the commentators alike. All eyes were wide with disbelief as they watched his actions.

"What is he doing? Is he trying to forfeit?" Coach Wang Mu paced along the sidelines, unable to mask his anxiety. It is common knowledge that underwater swimming is prohibited in freestyle events. After all, the drag is significantly lower underwater than at the surface, which would be extremely unfair to the other competitors. The standard regulation dictates that one may only submerge for a distance of 15 meters. Once a swimmer exceeds that limit, they are ruthlessly disqualified by the officiating panel. Was Wang not pushing himself into a fire pit?

"What is Brother Ming doing? Doesn't he know the rules?"
"Damn, doesn't diving mean disqualification?"
"It's over! Why didn't anyone warn him before the race?"
"Wait, look—he hasn't fully submerged!"

Just as the Chinese spectators were sweating for him and the foreign crowds were gloating, they realized that although Wang had made a powerful dive, he hadn't stayed under. As he approached the 15-meter mark, he surfaced. He kept only his head submerged while launching into another burst of speed. This left everyone at the venue completely baffled.

Immediately, coaches from other nations approached the Olympic organizing committee, demanding that Wang be disqualified and banned from the competition, insisting his actions constituted a severe foul. This scene was clear to all viewers watching on screen. While the audience wasn't sure if it counted as a foul, the officiating panel and the organizing committee held a discussion. It lasted only a few seconds before they reached a consensus: Wang Xiaoming had committed no foul.

The foreign coaches were stunned. "Why? He clearly dived! Why aren't you disqualifying him?"
"That's right, this is cheating! You're letting him cheat!"
"I'm going to report you all!"

However, the committee and the referees remained firm, providing an explanation that left everyone silenced. "Wang Xiaoming only submerged his head; this does not constitute underwater swimming, and he did not exceed the 15-meter limit. Can you not see that his body remains above the water?"

"But his head..." a coach tried to argue, only to be cut off by the committee: "If your swimmer can manage to go without breathing, they are welcome to keep their head underwater as well!"

Everyone fell silent. It was an unwritten rule: modern freestyle swimming relies on a rhythm of turning the head left and right to surface for oxygen. If one did not require oxygen, they could indeed keep their head still, thereby eliminating a significant amount of drag. But who could actually go without gasping for air? Some had tried it—not breathing could indeed make one faster for a split second, but what about the rest of the race?

How long could one swim without replenishing oxygen? This wasn't holding one's breath on land or in a static state; this was an Olympic swimming race under high-pressure, high-intensity conditions. Holding one's breath would only exhaust the body faster, causing the arm movements to become stiff and sluggish toward the end.

Once they realized this, the foreign coaches stopped complaining. While Wang seemed to have the upper hand now, what about later? They didn't believe he could hold his breath for the rest of the race. They expected him to run out of steam. They had thought Wang was a dark horse and a formidable rival—his previous acceleration proved his terrifying ability—but now they believed he was simply digging his own grave. They couldn't help but smirk at the thought.

But would things go as they wished?

Just as they finished their protest with the committee and refocused their attention on the pool, they were frozen in their tracks, rendered speechless by what they saw.

"F— what is happening? Someone tell me!"
"No, impossible. This has to be a joke, right?"
"Is he even human? How is he doing this?"
"I don't believe it. He's cheating, he must be cheating!"

Several other swimmers watching from the sidelines erupted in shouts. "Oh my god, Wang Xiaoming, you're a beast!"
"Heaven, this is Brother Ming! This is really him!"
"I'm convinced, I'm truly convinced!"
"Is he even human? Is he not tired at all?"

The reason for their shock was simple: the rankings in the pool had undergone a monumental reversal. "When on earth did he swim into third place? Someone tell me!"