Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 48



Only Noblemtl

#048

In 1927, the American Olympic Association (AOA) was preparing for the Second Winter Olympics in St. Moritz and the IX Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

But then, suddenly, Chairman William Christopher Proud passed away just one year after taking office.

“The competition is now only one year away.”

“I’m worried that we won’t be able to properly prepare for the Olympics like this.”

“That’s right.”

At the last Paris Olympics, the United States achieved an overwhelming performance, winning 45 gold medals.

“People naturally assume we will win first place this time too.”

“Damn. You’re giving me so little support.”

Naturally, other countries were making every effort to block America’s monopoly.

It was also not unrelated to the groundbreaking changes in the Olympic competition regulations.

“And this time the Germans are finally joining in.”

Germany, a defeated country, was not invited to the 7th Antwerp Olympic Games held immediately after the war, or to the previous Paris Olympic Games.

To be exact, the Olympic Committee sent an invitation to the Paris Olympics, but participation was canceled as France banned the entry of the German team.

“It’s clear that the Germans are holding out a lot of patience.”

“The advancement of other countries is also remarkable.”

It was a perfect situation where if you do well, you get what you pay for, but if you do badly, you get penalized.

As a result, no one from the sports world came forward to take on the role of chairman.

“How long do you plan to leave the chairmanship vacant?”

“Ahem.”

“Shouldn’t we set someone up?”

“I have a good idea.”

At first, everyone looked dumbfounded at what someone had said.

“MacArthur? Aren’t you a soldier?”

“Well, if you’re a war hero, you’re a hero. What do you know about sports?”

“No. You know West Point is doing well these days, right?”

“Oh, what.”

West Point’s advancement was notable in a variety of sports, including football, baseball, and basketball.

Annapolis, previously considered a strong competitor, was now considered to be completely inferior.

“These are all achievements made during the time when General MacArthur was the school principal.”

“Hoo.”

Only then did people’s eyes begin to change.

“Hmm. That might be better.”

Since he was not limited to a particular sport and was a person from outside the sports world, there was no need to worry about factions or nepotism.

There was talk that since he had experience managing several sports teams while serving as the school principal, he would be good at serving as the team president.

But the reality is,

‘I don’t know anything, so I’m perfect for a face madam, right?’

‘I’m not in league with those guys…’

‘It doesn’t have to be our side, as long as it’s not their side.’

‘If you don’t know anything, wouldn’t it be better to just swing it?’

Not on my side, but not on the other side either.

It’s easy to swing around because you don’t know anything.

But it has some degree of fame.

That’s why I, MacArthur, was offered the position of Olympic Committee Chairman.

“We need the leadership of a general who is a war hero.”

“Crush the ambitions of those German bastards and show the world the greatness of our America…”

I burst out laughing.

‘I’m not stupid.’

As soon as I looked, I got a quote.

‘I’ve seen the federations and associations do nonsense for a year or two.’

In 21st century Korea, there were two truly idiots called the Gongnori Association and the Bingsin Federation.

At first glance, it was clear that they needed a pants president who could act as the face madam.

It was clear that once I took up the position there, a series of annoying tasks would follow.

“I guess there’s a lot to do?”

“Oh, no. I guess I’ll have to give a promotional speech or something, but…”

“is it so?”

“You just need to meet the players and coaches and give them some encouragement.”

“Yes, since it’s training anyway, each sport’s coaches will take care of these things.”

When I showed interest, people all came forward and said it wasn’t hard.

“Yes. And if you lead the team to Amsterdam and watch the game, etc…”

Is that okay? An Olympic intuition.

Since I’m the chairman, I’ll be given a VIP seat, right?

So I accepted the position of President of the Olympic Committee.

And after a while,

“These are the female high jumpers.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Starting with this competition, female athletes are now allowed to participate.”

As I was observing the players’ training, I tilted my head and muttered.

“Why are you running like that?”

It was so different from the high jump form I knew.

‘Woo Sang-hyun didn’t run like that.’

Clearly, the high jump I knew involved running from a distance, twisting my body while running, and looking up at the sky.

I called it back jumping…

But no matter how much I looked at the high jumpers before my eyes, they seemed far removed from anything I knew.

Instead of the boats pointing towards the sky, they were all jumping with their butts up in the air.

“What the players are practicing now is the latest technique called belly rollover.”

“is it so?”

While listening to the explanation, the male athletes appeared following the female athletes and began to high jump.

“Yes. Harold Osborne, who is running now, is the last Olympic gold medalist.”

“Is that so?”

“My personal best is 2.038.”

“Hmm.”

I knew it would be worse than the 21st century records, which were aided by a long history and extremely advanced sports science.

‘It’s bigger than I thought?’

“The next player coming up now is Bob King. He currently has the second-best record in the national team after Harold Osborne…”

The coaches faithfully answered every question I asked, but their attitude was…

Well, I think it would be the same for me too.

He said he was the chairman of the Olympic Committee and came to the training camp to do some unknown work, but he did come out…

‘What do you think you know?’

‘Well, doesn’t that give you the answer since you don’t even know the new record?’

‘Why on earth do you come to us and cause trouble? There are so many other types of events.’

I can hear it all. I can hear it.

Ah, civilians…

Unlike the soldiers who would know what to do just by looking at my rank insignia, I felt free-spirited with my whole body.

The players’ reaction was somewhat better.

The young players in their late teens and early twenties couldn’t hide their surprise at the appearance of me, a war hero they had only seen in the newspapers.

“Oh, it really is General MacArthur.”

“I saw it in the newspaper all the time when I was young.”

“Whip those Germans hard~”

There were some that reminded me of my embarrassing past, though…

“It feels great to see everyone doing their best to bring honor to their country and shine with sportsmanship.”

Although he said it was sturdy, in reality, it felt like one side of my chest was suddenly blocked, and I felt suffocated.

This was because I was worried about whether it was right to impart the knowledge I had to these people.

Although they are not athletes, they knew how important the Olympics were to them.

With less than a year left until the Olympics, I wonder how much my information will be of help to them.

I wondered if I could really explain back-to-back jumping to them properly.

I don’t even know what to call backflip in English.

I was thinking about it, so I let out a small sigh and opened my mouth.

If you think you’ll regret it whether you do it or not, wouldn’t it be better to do it and regret it?

“When you run and jump, how about stretching your arms like this and twisting your body? Look at the sky and jump with your back bent like a shrimp.”

“yes?”

When I said this, the coaches and players looked like they were wondering what kind of nonsense that nonsense an amateur was talking about.

I explained it carefully and even demonstrated the movements by moving my body in my own way, but the reaction was…

“Hmm. It seems like my explanation didn’t really get through to you.”

“It’s not that the new method is bad···.”

While I was worrying, I took out my secret weapon.

Okay, let’s go, Mathmon. No, Bradley.

##

“So, you want me to mathematically prove that jumping in the posture you are talking about will lead to a better record?”

“yes.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Bradley’s pretending to understand.

Wasn’t 21st century sports inseparable from science?

It was clear that scientific and mathematical calculations would be more convincing than my reputation as the youngest major general in the U.S. Army.

“Why on earth are you doing this to me?”

“Why is that? Of all the people I know, you’re the best at math.”

Bradley sighed at my answer, and Ike chuckled and patted his shoulder.

And a few days later,

“Director. What you said was right. When I really calculated it mathematically···.”

Bradley ran in with an excited face and began to explain his findings, spitting.

“uh···.”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand a single word he was saying. I looked at Eisenhower next to me and he had a similar look on his face.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

Only then did Bradley realize that our reactions were unusual and he stopped talking and asked.

“So you already knew what I said was right.”

Do you think all athletes in the 21st century do back flips for no reason?

All I needed was,

“It was a scientific and logical basis for persuading the coaches and players… Do you think they will understand your explanation?”

“ah.”

That was when.

“Sir, let’s just go like this.”

“huh?”

“I think it would be better to explain it like this.”

Eisenhower took a completely opposite view.

“Didn’t you give us a lot of hints that we were non-experts when we went there last time?”

“Yeah. Ah, ah.”

Eisenhower’s words that he would not be able to say he did not know because of his pride and would just pretend to understand everything and accept it were plausible.

No, it was quite possible.

So I called together the high jump coaches and athletes once again.

“So, in the end, the key is how high you raise your pelvis. The method that the director mentioned is definitely one that raises your pelvis even if your jump is somewhat low and your leg height is low···.”

And the coaches and players’ reactions were exactly as we expected.

The high jump team and coaches were on their knees during a friendly math lesson from Bradley (former West Point math professor).

“uh···.”

“hmm···.”

“therefore···.”

“ha···.”

“Is the explanation a bit difficult?”

“Oh, no.”

“Really? It was a bit difficult for me. You guys are definitely different, I guess because you are experts.”

After completing the confirmation kill, I smiled brightly and enjoyed the joy of victory.

“Then who will train the way I suggested?”

“Let’s discuss this…”

When I heard that he needed time, I raised my hand with a generous expression.

“Who wants to do it?”

“So, is that really effective?”

“Coach, do you really know what I’m talking about?”

“No. If I understood that, I would have gone to the math department or the physical education department.”

“Hey, you’re from Sangkyung University···.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Seeing him come out so confidently, I thought there was something there. However,

“The Olympics are only a few months away…”

“It’s too late to change your position…”

Especially, the players with good records had burdensome faces.

“I’ll do it.”

The faces of those gathered brightened at someone’s words.

“really?”

“yes.”

“Okay. Then let’s go.”

After a while of chatting and talking, the coach brought only one player.

“This guy wants to try the new training method that the chairman mentioned.”

It was a somewhat disappointing result, but at least there was at least one person there.

“This is Marion Holly.”

“Nice to meet you. Are you convinced by Bradley’s explanation?”

Holly shook her head at my question.

“Actually, I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Is that so?”

Bradley looked quite disappointed.

“Oh, if my explanation was difficult, please make it easier···.”

“No, it’s okay.”

I quickly stopped Bradley and whispered in Holly’s ear in a low voice.

“Actually, I don’t know what he’s talking about either.”

At my words, Holly made a face of bewilderment.

But what can I do? That’s the truth.

“By the way, why on earth did you decide to train me?”

“I may not understand his explanation, but I know one thing for sure.”

“What?”

“If you want to win a gold medal, you need a challenge. I don’t think you can beat Mildred Wylie with the current methods.”

Wiley, who has the best record among female high jumpers, shook her head, saying that she could not do it no matter what she did.

“So, if I really do as the chairman says, will I be able to win the gold medal?”

“Of course. What is a gold medal? Marion Holly’s name will be remembered in the history of world sports. And in the future, everyone will run as I said.”

“Puhaha. The general is a very interesting person.”

Holly laughed heartily at my words and replied that she hoped those words were true.

And shortly after,

“Chairman, Chairman.”

“What’s going on?”

“There was chaos.”

“why?”

“That MacArthur roll.”

“What roll?”

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The goal of the Olympics