每天读一篇英语小故事：The Marathon Cheater

英语自学网

　　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 trophy. He wasn’t
officially disqualified until the following day. Race organizers were angry that
Hank, who was a well-known but retired 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
shortcut. The organizers need to lighten up; it’s only a race.”
        　　Hank crossed the finish line wearing a floppy 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.