Chapter 39: You Are Not Fighting Alone; The Entire Internet Turns Against Phelps!

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The moment Wang Xiaoming said this, the entire internet erupted.

Everyone was stunned.

There was no doubt that he had just challenged the most powerful figure swimming had ever known.

After dealing with the reporters, Wang Xiaoming was preparing to enter the venue for the competition when several swimming coaches from other countries approached him with members of the organizing committee.

“Please wait a moment, Mr. Wang Xiaoming!” said a coach from Australia.

“Speak,” Wang Xiaoming replied coldly. Judging by their expressions, they clearly had nothing good in mind.

Sure enough, after exchanging glances, one of them stepped forward.

“I'm sorry, Mr. Wang Xiaoming, but you must undergo another urine test with the organizing committee.”

“Hmm?” Wang Xiaoming's brows drew together.

He had known they were up to no good, but he had never expected them to come up with something so shameless.

“Why?” he asked.

The swimming coaches exchanged uneasy looks, stammering for words.

Wang Xiaoming knew perfectly well that Michael Phelps was the mastermind behind all this.

“What is this? Didn't I already take a urine test at noon? Once in the morning, once at noon, once in the evening, and another during the break between events—and now you want yet another one?”

The coaches looked at one another, unsure what to say.

But Wang Xiaoming had no intention of indulging them.

“I'd be willing to take the test right here and now and publish the results for the entire world to see. But do the athletes from your countries—the United States and Australia—have the courage to do the same?”

None of them dared to answer.

At that moment, a group of swimmers also came to stand beside Wang Xiaoming.

“What? You don't dare?” Wang Xiaoming smiled.

“Back then, you used the same tactics to drag our country's Sun Yang from the summit. And now you intend to use those same tactics against me?”

“You're in too much of a hurry. You could have waited until after I won all the remaining gold medals!”

For an instant, everyone at the scene was left speechless.

Even Wang Xiaoming's teammates stared at him in disbelief.

How could he be so bold?

Meanwhile, in Beijing, China, Sun Yang was watching the livestream from home.

When he heard Wang Xiaoming's words, tears instantly filled his eyes.

His thoughts returned to that Olympic Games years ago.

He, too, had been slandered in exactly the same way, forced to undergo urine tests morning, noon, and night.

In the end, he could not take it anymore and refused to submit to another test.

Unfortunately, no one had believed him at the time.

Everyone had said, “If you have nothing to hide, why refuse the test?”

But those online spectators did not understand that he had been standing up for the dignity of his country.

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It would have been bad enough if they had failed to support him. Yet in the end, they had even condemned him relentlessly.

Now, watching Wang Xiaoming face the exact same situation, Sun Yang knew he could not allow the young man to suffer what he himself had endured.

China could not afford to lose Wang Xiaoming, just as the West could not afford to lose Jerusalem.

Without hesitation, Sun Yang picked up his phone and publicly voiced his support for Wang Xiaoming online under his own name.

Several students from Linjiang University were watching the Olympic livestream.

Seeing what Wang Xiaoming was facing, they were furious.

Yet they had no idea what they could do.

Then, while scrolling through posts, they suddenly saw Sun Yang's statement.

His unreserved public support for Wang Xiaoming made them realize that they, too, could play a part.

One after another, they picked up their phones and began condemning Michael Phelps for his slanderous accusations.

At the same time, in a hospital in Beijing, Wang Xiaoya turned to a nurse and said, “Sister, could you help me with something?”

“I know what you want to do. I was thinking the same thing!” the young nurse replied.

She immediately took out her phone and began voicing her support for Wang Xiaoming online.

At the same time, more and more people discovered Sun Yang's post.

Everyone reached for their phones and offered Wang Xiaoming whatever support they could.

One after another, then another and another.

Like a spark starting a prairie fire, the movement spread across the entire internet in an instant.

People knew that this time, they could not let Wang Xiaoming fight alone.

In the blink of an eye, public opinion across the internet turned overwhelmingly against Phelps.

Countless people flooded the comments beneath his post and confronted him directly.

The once-confident Phelps was so frightened that he immediately shut down the comment section.

And it was not only Chinese spectators who took action. Even the Chinese authorities stepped in.

While Wang Xiaoming was still arguing with the coaches from the other countries, several representatives from his own country arrived in the distance.

Wang Mu took one look at them, and delight appeared on his face.

“They're from the sports administration!”

The newcomers exchanged only a few words with the Olympic organizing committee before saying sternly, “If you intend to test Wang Xiaoming, then conduct another urine test on every swimming competitor.”

“If you are unwilling to do that, then I'm afraid, Mr. Wang Xiaoming has already cooperated with your urine test. He will not cooperate with any further testing.”

Their attitude was exceedingly firm.

They wanted Wang Xiaoming to understand that this time, he was not fighting alone.

As the nation grew stronger, it would not allow anyone to bully a hero who had gone to war for his country.

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Faced with China's uncompromising stance, the coalition of foreign coaches fell apart without a fight.

There had never been any evidence to begin with.

It was only with Phelps's backing that they had found the courage to join forces.

Now that they had no justification on their side, they could only swallow their humiliation and leave.

As the coaches walked away, the Chinese swimming team erupted in cheers.

Several officials from the sports administration also patted Wang Xiaoming on the shoulder, telling him that he was not fighting alone, and then departed.

But although the incident had come to an end, Wang Xiaoming had no intention of letting them off.

The next event was the men's 4x100-meter relay.

Wang Mu was not affected by what had happened. He continued arranging the lineup.

Wang Xiaoming, Pan Zhanle, and Zhang Zhanshuo would naturally all take part in the 4x100-meter relay.

Wang Xiaoming had originally intended to swim the final leg.

Coach Wang Mu had agreed that he should take the final leg as well.

For one thing, Wang Xiaoming's starts were not as technically polished as those of the more experienced swimmers.

For another, the final leg would allow him to make the most of his acceleration.

“Pan Zhanle, you'll take the first leg. Any problem with that?”

“No problem, Coach!”

But Wang Xiaoming interrupted, “Coach, let me take the first leg.”

“You? But your start—”

Wang Xiaoming smiled. “It's fine. Don't worry.”

Since these people enjoyed resorting to underhanded tricks, Wang Xiaoming no longer wanted to deal with them slowly.

“If I take the first leg, I'll crush their confidence in the race completely!”

Looking at Wang Xiaoming's firm, resolute expression, no one knew why, but they suddenly felt reassured.

“All right, then. Go on. I'll wait here for your good news!”

The four men shouted together, then placed their hands one atop another and pressed down hard.

“One, two, three—China must win!”

Carrying the confidence of certain victory, they walked toward the competition arena.

The 4x100-meter relay was about to begin!