"Yes! Right! That's it! Keep..." At about 9 a.m. on August 12, 2023, in the athletics training hall of Tianjin Tuanbo Sports Center, women's 100-meter hurdles athlete Wu Yanni was training under the guidance of coach Yang Hui.
During the training, Wu Yanni's face did not have the familiar "signature" smile of the audience. She completed each set of training movements attentively and seriously, and only between training, or wearing headphones to listen to music, or chatting with Coach Yang, her face showed a smile from time to time...
Wu Yanni between training loves to talk and laugh. Photo by Red Star News reporter Yuan Wei
Back on August 4, in the women's 100m hurdles final of the 31st Summer Universiade in Chengdu, Wu Yanni won the silver medal with a time of 12.76 seconds. This result not only set her personal best, but also allowed her to meet the standards for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first athlete in Sichuan to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.
As soon as this news came out, Wu Yanni once again became the focus of media and public attention. In addition to her impressive achievements, the 26-year-old has also been appreciated and praised by many netizens with her youthful and confident competitive state and "heroic and sassy" high appearance, frequently appearing on hot searches, and is affectionately known as the "hurdle goddess" by many people, becoming one of the "iconic figures" of Chinese women's athletics.
After the Chengdu Universiade, Wu Yanni took a short break for two days before coming to Tianjin with her coaching team to devote themselves to systematic training in preparation for the Asian Games and Olympic Games. On August 11 and 12, Red Star News reporters went to Tianjin for an in-depth interview with Wu Yanni, she told reporters about her hurdle career and current planning, as well as her Olympic dream and true voice along the way.
At the same time, Wu Yanni also calmly responded to some outside doubts caused by self-confidence. "The more I question me, the harder I work in training." She said that for now, she is only focusing on hurdles, taking every step down-to-earth, and trying to get herself on the track of the Paris Olympic final.
Talk about the Chengdu Universiade
Attending international events on your doorstep is exciting
Before the final, I wanted to rush to the "Olympic standard", but I regretted losing the championship but I was very satisfied
Wu Yanni is a typical Sichuan girl, with a hearty, atmospheric and confident personality. Born in Fushun County, Zigong City, she was registered as a naturalized Neijiang Zizhong in 2009 due to professional training. Showing a talent for sprinting from an early age, she embarked on the path of athletics.
Wu Yanni's debut began in September 2020. At that time, she won the women's 100m hurdles final of the National Athletics Championships with a time of 13.09 seconds, setting a new record for the Asian women's 100m hurdles since 2018, and was known as a new generation of "female flyers", and has since entered people's vision. In June 2023, she won the women's 100m hurdles final at the National Athletics Championships, World Championships and Asian Games Trials, with a time of 12.93 seconds. After the race, she said confidently and domineeringly: "This is just the beginning of me, I hope our women's hurdles go to the world and to the top podium!" ”
In the women's 100m hurdles event at the Chengdu Universiade, Wu Yanni was regarded as a "triple harvest": not only won the silver medal with a time of 12.76 seconds, but also set a new personal best twice in one day, and reached the standards of the Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first athlete in Sichuan to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.
Wu Yanni (center) in the women's 100m hurdles competition at the Chengdu Universiade. Photo by Red Star News reporter Wang Qin
For participating in the Chengdu Universiade, Wu Yanni told Red Star News that this was the first time she participated in an international event at her doorstep, and she was very happy and excited, not feeling nervous, but her blood was boiling. At that time, she set herself a goal: "Advanced finals, steady progress, just play your strength." ”
Wu Yanni admitted that she was still a little sorry that she did not win the championship, but she was very satisfied with the final result. Because I set my personal best twice a day and broke through myself. This is a very big improvement for her, who has been consuming in the first half of this year and has not accumulated.
Wu Yanni recalled to Red Star News that her time in the semifinals of the women's 100m hurdles was 12.86 seconds, which was relatively easy. Therefore, before the final, she gave herself a hint that "you can sprint towards the 'Olympic standard'".
Wu Yanni cheers after the women's 100m hurdles final at the Chengdu Universiade. Photo by Red Star News reporter Wang Qin
She said she didn't know the results when she ran down the final, but was only sure that she was second. Subsequently, the first place time was displayed on the big screen: 12.72 seconds. "At the time, I thought 'Will it be up to the Olympic Games?' At this time, she walked in the direction of the big screen, only took a few steps, and the screen showed "Wu Yanni, 12.76 seconds." Suddenly, her whole person was excited, "Just stepped into the threshold of the Olympic Games, I think it's great, very excited, very excited." ”
Talk about the Paris Olympics
I had made a wish to participate in the Olympics, and finally my dream came true
"Steady progress", first try to put yourself on the final track
For every athlete, the Olympic Games is a yearning and the ultimate goal of many people. Wu Yanni is no exception.
She also remembers that in 2017, QQ Space launched a small campaign to "give it to herself three years later". At that time, she left a paragraph to herself: "I hope that I can participate in the Olympics in three years..."
However, Wu Yanni passed by the Tokyo Olympics. In 2019, she had so few points that she couldn't meet the competition criteria and had to work hard metrics. She told Red Star News that the standard for participation in the Olympic Games at that time was 12.84 seconds, and she ran 12.87 seconds, a difference of 0.03 seconds; the top 40 can participate in the Olympic Games, and she ranked 43rd, 3 places behind. Later, she accidentally saw the message that QQ Space gave herself, and she still felt quite regretful in her heart, "It's almost a little." ”
Wu Yanni in training had a serious and focused expression. Photo by Red Star News reporter Miao Ruizhe
However, Wu Yanni also knows that this "little bit" requires athletes to make a thousand times more effort. She told Red Star News that it is a good start to meet the standards for participating in the Paris Olympics this time; The next step is to train harder to improve yourself and accumulate energy for the game.
For the planning at this stage, she said that the first thing is to compare the Asian Games, and still adhere to the plan of "steady progress" for the Olympic events, and make herself stand on the track of the final first through hard work; For the future, she said that she should treat athletes well and believe that she can run until the age of 32, so she only needs to think about training well, and "think about it when you can't run" in other aspects.
Wu Yanni's coach, Yang Hui, is guiding her training. Photo by Red Star News reporter Yuan Wei
In Wu Yanni's view, Chinese women's hurdles are in the trend of "going up", and the level is slowly improving. She hopes that through hard training, she can continue to accumulate and improve, stand on a higher podium, and win glory for the country.
Talk about becoming popular and questioning
Treat it calmly! "One person can't do it and everyone likes it"
Insist on doing yourself and hurdles, the signature action is to commemorate the deceased grandfather
For the high attention received after becoming popular, Wu Yanni said in many interviews with Red Star News reporters: treat it with a calm attitude. She believes that it is difficult for one person to be perfect, and it is impossible for everyone to like. So, she just insisted on being herself and sticking to her hurdle career. "Suddenly red, and suddenly not red, it's normal."
The reporter found in the interview that Wu Yanni under the arena was the same as her on the field. On the field, she is confident and domineering. Off the court, she likes to listen to songs with headphones, or chat and joke with coaches and teammates, and the atmosphere is harmonious, like a girl next door.
"Girl Next Door" Wu Yanni. Photo by Red Star News reporter Yuan Wei
Wu Yanni also confessed to the Red Star News reporter that when she saw some "bad" words, she would feel a little uncomfortable, but she would forget it for a while and would not care too much. For example, there were previous statements on the Internet questioning her plastic surgery, in fact, she just "cut a double eyelid"; The first two years are a little baby fat, and they naturally lose weight during the later training process. Previously, when the live broadcast was opened, some people questioned her "lack of money", and she responded domineeringly in the live broadcast room: "If there was a lack of money, I would have already engaged in live broadcasting, not in athletics."
For the voices on the Internet about her signature actions such as "exaggerated" and "too high-profile", she said that after listening to it, she did feel a little uncomfortable in her heart, but she would not care too much. She said that in fact, the action of twisting the shoulders is simply to relax the body and adjust the competitive state; And the signature action is to commemorate the deceased grandfather, so as to cheer yourself up.
In an interview with Red Star News, Wu Yanni did not hide her "confidence". She said that as an athlete, in addition to professional skills, self-confidence and no stage fright are also advantages. As long as you can relax yourself on the field, play your true strength, and achieve good results; It doesn't matter what others think or say. "You asked me to do [the signature move] under the ring, and I really couldn't do it."
Talk about family and life
Usually I prefer everyone to call her "Sister Ni"
Coming from a single-parent family, "my mother cultivated my confident and strong character"
In life, compared with titles such as "hurdle goddess" and "female flyer", Wu Yanni prefers to call her "Sister Ni", "Mother also calls me Sister Ni, and I call Sister Mother Yan." ”
Wu Yanni told Red Star News that she is a single-parent family, and her mother brought her up with hard work, "cultivating my self-confident and strong character now." It is precisely because of this personality that her performance on the field has led her to constantly challenge herself.
There is also a grandfather, who has felt sorry for her granddaughter since she was a child, and often encouraged her when she was alive: "We Yanni will definitely have a chance in the future, and it will be the best." ”
At the women's 100m hurdles final of the Chengdu Universiade, Wu Yanni's mother, aunt, sister, and some relatives and friends came to watch the competition and cheer her on. After the game, Wu Yanni cried with excitement. She said that one is crying because she has reached the "Olympic standard", and the other is crying to thank her family. Along the way, her mother was too difficult, and her relatives and friends gave her too much care and help and encouragement.
In the women's 100m hurdles competition at the Chengdu Universiade, Wu's mother (first from left) and her relatives and friends came to the scene to cheer for Wu Yanni. Photo courtesy of interviewee
"Yanni has been 'held' since she was a child." On August 15, Wu Yanni's mother Xiong Yan told Red Star News that her daughter's education and character cultivation mainly came from her and Yanni's grandfather. When she was a child, Wu Yanni did anything, she tried to amplify her strengths, encourage her, praise her, and cultivate her self-confidence. "As long as you don't violate the principles, you can make a small mistake without being pursued."
Xiong Yan said she practiced "opportunity education" for her daughter. She will collect her daughter's small shortcomings on a daily basis, but will not educate alone, but find an opportunity for her daughter to make a slightly big mistake, point them out one by one, and let her reflect and correct them. At this time, the daughter will think and accept.
On weekdays, Xiong Yan gets along with her daughter, not only mother and daughter, but also like "best friends", so Wu Yanni will talk to her and ask for help when she is depressed. Probably in 2021, Yanni encountered a training bottleneck and felt out of state. Xiong Yan thinks that her daughter takes the victory and defeat too seriously. After some thought, she gave her daughter a suggestion: You used to like to dance, as long as you stand on the stage, your eyes are full of light and confidence. You try to think of the track as a stage and release yourself on the stage of the track. Light makeup can be worn every time you race, which not only helps to boost self-confidence, but also respects the race, the track, and the spectators.
"What I actually want to tell her is to give myself psychological hints, first show your aura, have a good competitive mentality, and the rest is to fight." Xiong Yan told the Red Star News reporter that not long after, her daughter accepted her suggestion and stood on the track with a light makeup, and the whole person looked very energetic. After the game, her daughter also told her that "it really feels different, and I have more confidence".
Wu Yanni and her mother. Photo courtesy of interviewee
Xiong Yan also said frankly that after Wu Yanni became popular, some people liked it, and some people "sprayed". At first, she felt uncomfortable when she saw some bad comments, and she was worried that her daughter's mood would be affected, so she called to comfort her daughter. Unexpectedly, her daughter in turn comforted her that "as much praise as I can accept, I can accept as much slander", which made Xiong Yan feel that her daughter has really grown up and matured.
Xiong Yan said that in her eyes, Yanni is a child, an ordinary girl, she loves dance, calligraphy, drama, and new things. On the field, she is confident, flamboyant and even high-profile; Off the field, she grinned big, loved to express, and loved to laugh.
Regarding the different evaluations on the Internet, Xiong Yan told the Red Star News reporter that she would not care too much. Today's Wu Yanni has only made a small achievement, and she and her daughter will always maintain a humble heart and live regularly as usual. As a mother, she also wants her daughter to be herself and surpass herself. If it fails, don't be discouraged and start all over again.
Wu Yanni in the eyes of the coach
"I've been taking her for 11 years, and I've become my girl"
Self-confidence is her advantage, very good at fighting! Master and apprentice tacitly understand the divine understanding
"Yes! Right! That's it! Keep! "That's it! Go on! ”...... At about 9 a.m. on August 12, in the athletics training hall of Tianjin Tuanbo Sports Center located in Jinghai District, Tianjin, Wu Yanni was training under the guidance of coach Yang Hui.
During the training, Wu Yanni completed each set of training movements seriously and attentively. Only between training sessions does she smile when she puts on headphones to listen to music or chat with her coach.
Yang Hui is guiding Wu Yanni in training. Photo by Red Star News reporter Miao Ruizhe
In order to better improve herself, after completing the competition of the Chengdu Universiade, Wu Yanni only took a short break for two days, and then came to Tianjin with the coaching team to start systematic training in preparation for the Asian Games and the Olympic Games.
Coach Yang Hui, 61, is originally from Chengdu, Sichuan. More than 30 years ago, Yang Hui was admitted to Beijing Sport University majoring in athletics, and after graduation, he stayed on to become an athletics coach, focusing on hurdles.
"I've been taking her for 11 years, and they've become my daughters." Yang Hui still remembers the scene when Wu Yanni was selected. It was April 2012, Wu Yanni was practicing sprinting, and her mentor Zhou Youjun recommended her to Yang Hui, hoping that he would see if the girl was suitable for hurdlings.
Yang Hui said that after meeting Wu Yanni, from her physical condition, she met the requirements of hurdles. But judging from the data that tested her guts, speed and bounce power at the time, the performance was not particularly good. However, comprehensive judgment, she has relatively large space and potential for development.
Yang Hui confessed to the Red Star News reporter that what made Wu Yanni add points was her personality - cheerful and not stage frightened. This is also an important factor for athletes. Because on the playing field, the psychological quality of not being afraid of the field helps athletes maintain or even improve their competitive state.
Yang Hui also said that Wu Yanni is a very capable athlete. This "fight" does not mean blindly training hard, but "fighting" at the key nodes of training and "fighting" on the nodes of qualitative change. Sometimes, Wu Yanni will bargain with the coach on the amount of training, but when it comes to training at key nodes, she knows to go all out to do and fight.
Yang Hui said that Wu Yanni is very good at "fighting" at key points of training. Photo by Red Star News reporter Yuan Wei
After more than ten years of running-in, the master and apprentice have reached a high tacit understanding. Yang Hui said, "She doesn't say, I know what she is thinking; I don't say, she will know how to work hard. ”
Regarding Wu Yanni's achievements in the Chengdu Universiade, Yang Hui commented: "I ran a very beautiful result and was very satisfied. Before the competition, his inner plan was to reach the "Olympic standard", even if he couldn't achieve it, he would strive to break 12.8 seconds. But he didn't tell Wu Yanni about the idea, but he felt that "she knew it, she knew it was what I expected of her." Judging from the training arrangement and state in the early stage, Wu Yanni is capable of doing it. In the end, she did!
What makes Yang Hui gratifying is that in the 11 years of training and competition, Wu Yanni has rarely suffered injuries and almost no major injuries. He told Red Star News that over the past 11 years, he has always adhered to the principle of "steady improvement, step by step" in Wu Yanni's training, scientifically quantified the training plan, accurately controlled the training rhythm, and never pulled out seedlings to help them. Therefore, Wu Yanni has been in good health to complete training and competition. Yang Hui believes that Wu Yanni still has a lot of potential to tap, "There is no problem in the competition until she is in her 30s. ”
Speaking of expectations, Yang Hui said that he definitely expects Wu Yanni's results to get better and better. He said that mainland athlete Zhang Yu set a national record of 12.64 seconds in the women's 100m hurdles event at the Seventh National Games in 1993, which has not been broken for 30 years. "It will definitely be difficult to break this record, there is still a big gap and we have to redouble our efforts. However, we take this record as the goal and direction of our efforts, and work towards this goal. ”
Red Star News reporters inquired and found that from the performance point of view, Wu Yanni is currently the "sixth person in history" in the Chinese women's 100-meter hurdles. In front of her were Zhang Yu (12.64 seconds), Wu Shuijiao (12.72 seconds), Liu Huajin (12.73 seconds), Zeng Yan (12.74 seconds), Xie Liuying (12.75 seconds), and Liu Jing and Wu Yanni tied for sixth.
For the 26-year-old Wu Yanni, her hurdle career has just begun to reach its peak, and she will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of her predecessors and walk to a higher "athletics hall" in the future career and life. Bless Yanni!
Red Star News reporter Yuan Wei
Edited by Zhang Xun Editor: Li Binbin
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