365个英语简短小故事-338. The Marathon Cheater

The 2007 Berlin marathon for males over 55 was unusual in that the winner cheated. “Hank” skipped two checkpoints during the race. The electronic tracking chip that all runners must wear confirmed that Hank had run only 17 miles of the 26-mile marathon. Instead of confessing, Hank let race organizers discover the facts by themselves. He accepted the cheers and winner’s trophy¹. He wasn’t officially disqualified until the following day. Race organizers were angry that Hank, who was a well-known but retired² politician in his native country, had accepted the winner’s trophy. “He disgraced himself and his country,” said one race official.

Hank later told the media that he had never intended to run the whole Berlin marathon, as he was still tired from the San Diego marathon he had run two months earlier. Hank’s San Diego marathon time was just under 4 hours; his Berlin time was little more than 2 ½ hours. Asked why he had held his arms up high as if he was the winner at the finish line, Hank said, “Everyone does that. This was my fifth marathon this year. I knew the computer chip would detect my shortcut³. The organizers need to lighten up; it’s only a race.”

Hank crossed the finish line wearing a floppy⁴ hat, a long-sleeved T-shirt, long pants, and a huge grin. He looked as cool as a cucumber, said a suspicious photographer. The other early finishers in the over-55 group crossed the finish line wearing sweaty T-shirts and nylon running shorts. None of them were grinning.

 

1 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 shortcut   

n.近路，捷径

参考例句：

• He was always looking for a shortcut to fame and fortune.他总是在找成名发财的捷径。
• If you take the shortcut,it will be two li closer.走抄道去要近2里路。

4 floppy   

adj.松软的，衰弱的

参考例句：

• She was wearing a big floppy hat.她戴了顶松软的大帽子。
• Can you copy those files onto this floppy disk?你能把那些文件复制到这张软盘上吗？