Wu Yanni (吴艳妮): China’s Trailblazing Track and Field Star

Wu Yanni has emerged as one of China’s most captivating and accomplished track and field athletes, specializing in the 100-meter hurdles. Known equally for her athletic prowess and her bold, confident personality, Wu has become a cultural phenomenon who is redefining what it means to be a Chinese athlete in the 21st century.

Early Life and Athletic Beginnings

Born in Zigong, a city in southwestern Sichuan Province, Wu Yanni was an exceptionally energetic child from the start. Describing herself as having been told she had ADHD as a child, Wu recalls being unable to sit still and preferring activities like singing, dancing, running, playing with marbles, and riding bikes over studying. Her independent spirit was evident early on—when her mother offered her money to sit still for just one minute, Wu refused, saying she wouldn’t do it even if threatened with punishment.

Wu’s journey into athletics began in 2009 when she was just a child. After her family moved from Zigong to Neijiang (also in Sichuan) due to her mother’s small business, Wu participated in a city sports meet where she was spotted by a youth coach who recognized her potential. Initially, she studied dance, but her natural athletic abilities set her on a different path.

In 2012, after training in the provincial capital Chengdu, Wu was selected for the prestigious Beijing Sports University hurdles team, marking the official start of her hurdling career. Her former coach Yang Hui famously described her as “made for hurdling,” recognizing the natural qualities that would contribute to her success.

Education and Athletic Development

Wu Yanni studied at Beijing Sports University, one of China’s premier institutions for elite athletes and sports science. Beijing Sports University, founded in 1953 and part of China’s 211 Project, provided Wu with both world-class training facilities and academic education in sports science.

At the university, Wu trained under expert coaches and developed the technical skills that would later make her a national champion. She made her debut in China’s national athletics squad in 2019, quickly establishing herself as a rising star in Chinese track and field.

Athletic Accomplishments

Wu Yanni has established herself as the premier female hurdler in China, with an impressive collection of achievements:

National Championships: Wu has dominated the Chinese national scene, winning the women’s 100m hurdles title six times in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Her consistent excellence has made her the undisputed leader in her event within China.

Personal Bests and Records:

• 100m hurdles outdoor: 12.74 seconds (set at the Chinese Athletics Championships on June 30, 2024, in Shandong—the best Asian performance of 2024)
• 60m hurdles indoor: 8.01 seconds (Chinese national record, set at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing on March 23, 2025)

Major International Medals:

• Silver medal at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu (12.76 seconds in the final, after running 12.85 seconds in the semifinals)
• Bronze medal at the Asian Championships

Competition History:

• 2016: Third place at National Track and Field Championships (13.58 seconds)
• 2017: Third place at the 13th National Games in Tianjin (13.36 seconds)
• 2018, 2020, 2021: Gold medals at National Games and National Athletics Championships
• 2023: Won Chinese national title; qualified for Asian Athletics Championships final in Bangkok but was disqualified due to false start
• 2023: Disqualified at Asian Games in Hangzhou for false start after crossing the line in second place (12.77 seconds)
• 2024: Won gold at World Continental Tour events in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan
• 2024: Competed at Paris Olympics, creating China’s best result in the women’s 100m hurdles
• 2025: Set Chinese national record in 60m hurdles (8.01 seconds) at World Athletics Indoor Championships, missing the final by just 0.01 seconds
• 2025: Competed at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo

World Rankings: As of 2025, Wu is ranked #33 in the world for women’s 100m hurdles, reflecting her elite status on the international stage.

Olympic Journey and Paris 2024

Wu qualified for her first Olympics—the 2024 Paris Games—after her impressive silver medal performance at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, her hometown province. She became the first athlete from Sichuan to qualify for the Paris Olympics in track and field.

At the Paris Olympics, Wu competed in the women’s 100m hurdles, posting a time of 12.97 seconds in the preliminaries and 12.98 seconds in the repechage round. While she did not advance to the finals, she achieved China’s best result in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Olympics. When asked to rate her Olympic debut, Wu gave herself a brutally honest “zero,” demonstrating the high standards she sets for herself. However, she viewed the experience as invaluable preparation for future competitions, stating, “I went to the Olympics just to learn and earn more experience.”

Career Aspirations and Goals

Wu’s primary athletic goal is to break China’s national record for the 100m hurdles of 12.64 seconds, set by Yu Zhang in 1993. With a personal best of 12.74 seconds, Wu is within striking distance of this historic mark.

Wu has been candid about her Olympic ambitions, acknowledging that winning an Olympic medal remains “an ambitious goal that feels out of reach for now.” However, she focuses on continuous improvement, aiming to break into the top eight at major international competitions while gaining experience competing at the highest level. She has expressed her belief that Chinese athletes need more international competition experience to improve: “We need to go out and compete more, that’s how we can be better, and I believe we will be better.”

Wu ended a decade-long drought when she became the first Chinese athlete to compete in the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Championships in 2025. The last Chinese athlete to compete in this event at the world championships was Wu Shuijiao in 2015.

Breaking Stereotypes and Personal Style

Beyond her athletic achievements, Wu Yanni has become famous—and sometimes controversial—for her bold approach to self-expression and challenging traditional expectations for Chinese athletes.

Makeup and Fashion: Wu regularly competes wearing carefully applied makeup, including dramatic eye makeup, false eyelashes, and sometimes star-shaped rhinestones. She has defended this choice, stating: “I’ll perform better when all the focus is on me… I think it’s normal for girls to wear makeup, and we can’t take away a person’s right to look beautiful.” She explained that her makeup is a form of respect for both the competition and the audience, as well as a means of self-expression.

Wu has described her makeup technique in detail, explaining that she uses contouring to emphasize her features for photographs, particularly enhancing her nose which she describes as naturally sunken. When critics suggested she had plastic surgery, she responded positively: “I get really happy, because to me, that means they’re validating my makeup technique.” She has stated that she has only had double eyelid surgery.

Her philosophy is clear: “I want to show the prettiest, coolest, boldest, and most confident Wu Yanni.” She hopes to “break the stereotype that most people have about track and field athletes” and show that “in the 21st century, athletes should be able to show their individuality, show the world a different kind of beauty in the sport of track and field.”

Tattoos: Wu has a visible tattoo on her right arm, which she has stated is “a symbol of her self-confidence.” In China, where tattoos are associated with negative stereotypes and athletes with visible tattoos face broadcasting restrictions, Wu’s choice has been controversial. She has attempted to comply with regulations by covering it with bandages during competitions, but it remains a defining part of her identity. In an interview with China Central Television, she said: “I am confident in myself. I don’t have that tattoo for nothing.”

Signature Pre-Race Ritual: Wu is known for her distinctive pre-race move: she swaggers to the starting line, then points confidently toward the sky. She has explained that this ritual is her way of releasing pressure and adjusting her mental state before competing.

Fashion Choices: Wu wears tight-fitting competition attire, which she explains is functional—designed to reduce wind resistance and enhance speed. She views every second gained as crucial to victory and a testament to her pursuit of excellence.

Social Media Presence and Cultural Impact

Wu has become a major social media personality with over 3.7 million followers on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). However, she has distanced herself from the label “internet celebrity,” emphasizing: “I’ve been in this sport for 11 years, working hard every day.”

Her social media presence has generated both admiration and controversy. In January 2025, Wu posted heavily edited black-and-white photographs on Weibo where she said she was following the style of American model Kendall Jenner. The images, which garnered over 40 million views, sparked criticism from some users who said they were edited beyond recognition, though Wu defended her artistic choices: “Everyone has their own preferences, and I like these photos.”

Wu has been nicknamed “China’s goddess of track and field,” reflecting both her athletic prowess and her impact on popular culture. She has appeared at high-profile fashion events, including Valentino and M.A.C. cosmetics events, bridging the worlds of athletics and fashion.

Philosophy on Individuality and Self-Expression

Wu has been outspoken about the importance of individuality and challenging conventional norms. She has stated: “We should allow others to be others and allow ourselves to be ourselves. This is the most important.”

Addressing criticism about her style, Wu identified three types of critics: those whose viewpoints simply differ from hers but who are fundamentally nice people; those who enjoy being negative and use memes to mock her; and those who engage in genuine malicious behavior. Despite facing significant online criticism, particularly after her false starts at major competitions, Wu has remained resilient and committed to her authentic self-expression.

Wu hopes that her approach will help broaden beauty standards in athletics and society: “I hope that with more spotlights given to (female) athletes, people would start to see and appreciate the beauty of a healthy body and broaden the beauty standard [applying to] body shapes.”

Inspiration and Role Models

Wu has cited Chinese Olympic gold medalist hurdler Liu Xiang as her primary inspiration. She has rewatched videos of his races many times, drawn to what she describes as his “cool and dominating aura.” She explained: “As soon as he stepped onto the track, he was king; he was the brightest star… He had this ferocity in his eyes, like ‘I’m definitely going to beat you guys.’ He’s my role model.”

Wu has noted similarities between Liu Xiang’s experience with online criticism after his withdrawal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to injury and the criticism she has faced. She has expressed hope that the Chinese sports community and public will be more tolerant and supportive of athletes, stating: “China’s Olympic champion Liu Xiang inspires the athletes and the youth of our generation, leading us to dream big and attain new heights.”

Resilience and Growth Through Adversity

Wu’s career has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks, including multiple false start disqualifications at major competitions (2023 Asian Athletics Championships, 2023 Asian Games). These incidents generated intense public scrutiny and online criticism, but Wu has demonstrated remarkable resilience.

She has spoken philosophically about the challenges of being an elite athlete: “Defeats and injuries are what happens to athletes. There’s no way to avoid it. What is really difficult, is to live through that and grow from that.” She views her track career not just as athletic competition but as a path to personal maturity and growth.

Wu has acknowledged that international competition has helped her develop: “Sprinting on the track is not only a career for me, but also a way for me to become more mature in life.” She approaches major competitions as learning opportunities, continually working to improve her experience competing at the highest level.

Connection to Sichuan and Chengdu

Wu maintains a strong connection to her home province of Sichuan. Before the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, she described the city as “the most beautiful, vibrant, hospitable, inclusive and comfortable city,” adding: “I can be a tour guide.” She participated in the torch relay for the Games and was deeply moved by the passion of the Sichuan audience.

Wu expressed her pride in representing both her country and her hometown: “I hope to win pride for my country and hometown at the Universiade.”

Personal Interests and Life Beyond Athletics

Beyond her athletic pursuits, Wu has demonstrated interests in fashion, beauty, and self-expression. She has attended high-profile events including the Yao Foundation Charity Game, a charity basketball event hosted by retired NBA player Yao Ming, showing her involvement in the broader sports community.

Wu has also shown interest in international fashion and pop culture, citing American model Kendall Jenner as a style inspiration. Her active social media presence suggests she enjoys connecting with fans and sharing aspects of her life beyond competition.

Her childhood love of singing, dancing, and movement has translated into her dynamic presence both on and off the track. Wu’s energetic personality—what she once described as hyperactivity—has become one of her defining characteristics as an athlete who brings excitement and personality to every competition.

Legacy and Impact

Wu Yanni represents a new generation of Chinese athletes who are challenging traditional expectations and embracing individuality. In a sports culture that has historically emphasized conformity and modesty, Wu’s confidence, self-expression, and refusal to apologize for her authenticity have sparked important conversations about athlete identity, gender norms, and beauty standards.

While her style has divided opinions, with some critics arguing that athletes should focus solely on performance, Wu has found strong support from those who view her as a trailblazer redefining what it means to be a Chinese athlete. As one supporter noted, she is challenging “old-fashioned” norms and celebrating her identity through her appearance and personality.

Wu’s journey from an energetic child in Sichuan who couldn’t sit still to becoming China’s premier female hurdler and a cultural icon demonstrates the power of embracing one’s authentic self while pursuing excellence. Whether she’s breaking records on the track or challenging stereotypes off it, Wu Yanni continues to make her mark as one of China’s most compelling and controversial sports figures.

Go Wu!