At the 31st FISU World University Games held in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the Chinese delegation’s first gold was proudly clinched by a native Sichuan athlete, specializing in the ancient martial art form of wushu. The talent in question is the remarkable Cao Maoyuan, whose performance in the Nanquan event left the audiences spellbound, securing him the top position with a phenomenal score of 9.77.
For the uninitiated, Nanquan is a revered genre of Chinese wushu, primarily practiced south of the Yangtze River. It distinguishes itself with its rapid, concise, yet forceful motions. Fresh from this victory, Cao conveyed his sentiments to Global Times, expressing the importance of such platforms in showcasing the beauty of Chinese wushu to the world. He voiced his hopes of global audiences becoming more acquainted with, and perhaps enamored by, the martial art form.
Cao’s brilliance didn’t stop at one gold. He astounded once more with a masterful Nangun routine, a variant of wushu involving rod techniques, subsequently securing his second gold of the tournament. Reflecting on this feat, he conveyed that achieving this twin gold target was anticipated. The realization of this expectation, he feels, is attributed to his mindset during the contest and the unyielding support from his coach. A mere 93 seconds were what it took for Cao to execute his Nanquan routine, but behind those seconds lie two decades of rigorous training.
The journey of Cao Maoyuan’s tryst with wushu is storied. A decade and a half ago, at just ten, he clinched his inaugural gold medal. This triumph would form the foundation of his burgeoning career in wushu. Over the years, victories like the one at the Youth Championship in 2014 further solidified his love and commitment to the martial art form.
His mother reminisced about a young Cao, captivated by the theatrics of martial arts cinema, innocently mimicking moves, signaling the early sparks of passion for the art form. Cao’s initial coach, Heng Jinwei, highlighted his meteoric potential and unyielding work ethic. From practicing in local sports schools alongside promising peers to battling through physical adversities like a head injury that required 13 stitches, Cao’s determination has been unwavering. This resilience and fervor for wushu, remarked Heng, are evident even in his present competitions, such as in the Chengdu Games.
Under the tutelage of mentors like Heng and later, Yu Bo, Cao’s talent was honed to perfection. Yu described Cao’s athletic prowess akin to a “wild horse,” commending his ability to seamlessly execute both Nanquan and Nangun routines. Yet, his height, which provides strength in some aspects, presented challenges in grounding some of his movements. Together with Yu, Cao worked tirelessly to amplify his strengths and rectify the weaknesses.
His unwavering belief is that skipping a day’s practice translates to forfeiting ten days of progress. This mindset helped him navigate through setbacks, like the disappointment faced at the 14th National Games of China in 2021, wherein an initial mistake kept him from the finals. But adversity only made him more resolute.
In Cao’s words, “The opponent I need to overcome is always in the mirror, and I must surpass myself every day.” As an ambassador of wushu, Cao envisions a collaborative effort of the younger generation in fostering the growth and global recognition of Chinese wushu.
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