Chapter 520: Sportsman of the Year

Chapter 520: Male Athlete of the Year

"Got it!"

The editor of CCTV-5 Sports' official Weibo downed a cup of coffee, perked up to post, muttering, "At least I didn't wait in vain!"

It was just the early morning of the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. In previous years, without major time-zone-difference events, there was no need to work at all. Even the Laureus Awards ceremony around this time didn't require staying up late—just post the final results after waking up the next day. But this year was different, with Meng Fan nominated and a real chance of winning. So, the editor had been glued to the screen since the red carpet began at midnight.

Overtime is always tough, especially in the dead of night. Yet, seeing Meng Fan clinch the prestigious Breakthrough of the Year award filled the editor with joy and excitement. Apart from the Chinese Olympic delegation winning the Best Team award in 2009 for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Meng Fan's win was the first for a Chinese athlete in one of the five major Laureus categories.

—Yao Ming and Liu Xiang both won the Best Newcomer award, but that wasn't among the five major categories, and it was later discontinued.

Thrilled, the editor quickly crafted a Weibo post announcing Meng Fan's Laureus Breakthrough of the Year award, checked for typos, attached the edited clip of the award announcement, and published it.

The CCTV-5 editor wasn't alone. Across China, many media reporters were also burning the midnight oil for Meng Fan. As the first award he was nominated for was decided and he won, voices erupted. In an instant, Weibo was flooded with news of Meng Fan's victory.

Surprisingly yet predictably, these posts garnered massive shares, as countless ordinary netizens were also up watching the live stream. Well, for some, staying up wasn't just for Meng Fan—they'd be awake for someone or something else anyway. For many, the late hours were the only truly free time in a day, to do what they loved—overtime work excluded.

Several of Meng Fan's celebrity friends also posted congratulations on Weibo.

Bai Zhi: "Endure the deepest night, apply the priciest mask, devour the spiciest duck neck, and sit tight for the flashiest little brother's acceptance speech!"

Su Qingcen: "Congrats to the Iron God on winning Laureus!"

Shi Shiwu: "Perfect time for a late-night gaming session! Hurry up with the speech and squeeze in a round before the next award, kid!"

Kun Ye: "I won't say much else—just let me touch your trophy when you're back!"

And yes, from Kun Ye onward, the tone shifted. Amid the late-night frenzy, besides #MengFanLaureus# and #MengFanBreakthrough#, a new trending topic emerged: #WantToTouchMengFanTrophy#

As a nominee, sitting in the audience waiting for the award to be announced was nerve-wracking. Despite looking calm when the camera panned to him, his heart was racing. When he heard his name—the one confirming his win, not the playful mentions from the two legends earlier—Meng Fan was ecstatic. Wu Tong could clearly feel his grip tighten on her hand, slick with sweat.

Kissing Wu Tong on the cheek, Meng Fan stood up, hugged Dean Zhan, and walked out of his seat. Along the way, many athletes he knew reached out for high-fives or handshakes.

Meng Fan knew quite a few people in the sports world, but few were close friends. After all, he'd only been an athlete for a little over a year—how could he have friends everywhere? Most were just nodding acquaintances or photo buddies. Yet, as he walked, he could clearly feel their goodwill, sincere congratulations, and respect for his strength.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Taking the trophy from the two legends, Meng Fan noted that the Laureus award was beautiful, but clearly not as beautiful as his smile. "Thanks to the Laureus World Sports Academy members for their recognition, to my coach, my teammates, and my family."

"Before coming, many asked me about my confidence in winning. After arriving, many asked too. Honestly, it's a tough question. I wish they'd asked who the best-looking male athlete at the ceremony was, but they didn't. I think they already knew the answer. With that thought, I felt confident. As it turns out, after weighing the strength, achievements, and influence of the six nominees, the Academy members chose to give the award to the best-looking one—after all, I'm still the toughest."

Meng Fan delivered his speech in Chinese, with a live translation. After hearing it, the guests applauded and cheered for his witty, unconventional remarks.

"Ah, this guy!"

Dean Zhan clapped below, shaking his head with a wry smile. It was the only global awards ceremony—surely the speech could be simple but at least proper? Yet Meng Fan just brushed it off.

As a "traditional" sports figure, Dean Zhan felt the speech was a bit "too unserious." But on second thought, it wasn't out of line. From another angle, it showcased the confident demeanor of a Chinese athlete. If one had to "interpret" it, Meng Fan's final line, "after all, I'm still the toughest," was both humorous and brimming with confidence.

Actually, there was no need for much "interpretation." Whether domestic or international netizens, most loved such a unique acceptance speech. The only slightly "awkward" thing was that while Meng Fan's words sounded humorous, they were the honest truth!

Once this speech was out, media outlets worldwide had fresh material. Some even brainstormed eye-catching headlines like "Did Meng Fan Win the Award with Looks or Fists to Convince the Judges?"

After Meng Fan left the stage, awards for Best Team, Best Disabled Athlete, Best Extreme Athlete, and Best Sporting Moment were announced one by one. By the time the Best Male Athlete award came around, it was nearly 10 PM local time, close to 4 AM in China.

Those still watching for this award were either surviving on coffee or fueled by pure love. Only true fans who genuinely cared about Meng Fan could stay up this late.

The Best Male and Female Athlete awards have always been the most anticipated at Laureus. The winners are invariably the world's top superstar athletes, each a heavyweight in sports, wielding immense influence and commercial value.

Especially the Best Male Athlete award—commercially, every winner is among the highest-paid athletes globally. Even if they weren't before winning, they certainly become so afterward!

Among the six nominees this time, three had a strong chance: Novak Djokovic, who won his 16th Grand Slam; Lewis Hamilton, who claimed his 6th F1 World Drivers' Championship; and Meng Fan, the Olympic five-gold medalist and absolute ruler in weightlifting, wrestling, and judo.

(Chapter End)