In a riveting display of athleticism at the Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium in Chengdu, star hurdler Wu Yanni delivered a scintillating performance in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. Clocking an impressive 12.76 seconds, she clinched a silver medal for China, creating ripples of excitement throughout the arena.
Hailing from Zigong, a city in the southern Sichuan Province, and now a student at Beijing Sports University, Wu undoubtedly emerged as the evening’s highlight. She didn’t just create a sensation with her timing but broke her personal best not once, but twice during the competition.
Her words post-race reflected the gratitude and pride she felt. “The overwhelming support I’ve received has been the major catalyst. Competing on home turf gives me a sense of relaxation and motivation, rather than pressure,” she shared.
The trajectory of Wu’s career has been nothing short of spectacular. She initiated her journey in hurdling in the neighboring city of Neijiang. Earlier in the competition, Wu bettered her own record by setting a time of 12.86 seconds during the semifinals. But she didn’t stop there. She went on to slash a significant 0.1 seconds in the final.
This remarkable achievement has opened up new vistas for her, notably securing her spot for the forthcoming Paris Olympics, as she surpassed the entry requirement of 12.77 seconds. She expressed her deep-seated passion, saying, “It’s my love for hurdles that has seen me through various challenges. I hope my fervor can inspire more young people to embrace the charm of athletics and push beyond their limits.”
While Wu’s performance stole the limelight, her compatriot, Lin Yuwei, clocked a respectable 13.03 seconds, landing a fifth-place finish in the final.
However, her exceptional timing in Chengdu, which also met the qualifying criteria for the world athletics championships in Budapest, came just a tad late for the event.
Wu’s aspirations are lofty. Influenced by Chinese athletics icon, Liu Xiang, who clinched gold in the 110 meters hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, she aspires to shine in women’s hurdles on the global stage. “It’s not just about me; I want Chinese female hurdlers to gain more international recognition,” she emphasized.
Her signature gesture of pointing to the sky before each race has garnered much attention and imitation online. Wu revealed that the gesture signifies her ambitions for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
In a heartwarming gesture, she also dedicated her accomplishment to the resilient spirit of her fellow countrymen affected by the recent floods in northern China, and to those involved in the rescue operations.
The gold for the night went to Viktoria Forster of Slovakia, who finished with a personal best of 12.72 seconds, while Jyothi Yarraji of India bagged the bronze with a timing of 12.78 seconds. Yarraji was effusive in her praise for China, thanking the nation for a wonderful competition and the opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Another standout athlete was Sarah Keskitalo, representing Finland, but with Chinese origins, who set her personal best with a time of 13.17 seconds in the semifinals.
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