A confident shoulder shake, a fingertip tap to the brow, and a point to the sky — hurdler Wu Yanni's signature pre-race ritual is as bold and unmistakable as she is. Some online critics say it's too much, but Wu remains unapologetically herself.

"Every athlete has their own way of getting into the zone. For me, this routine sparks my fighting spirit and reminds me to believe in myself," she said.

At 27, Wu's journey has been just like her trademark gesture — full of resilience, flair and fearless self-expression. Despite setbacks and criticism, she's stayed true to who she is, charging ahead with a combination of grit and grace.

From silver at the 2023 Chengdu FISU Games, to breaking an 11-year national record in the 60m hurdles at last month's World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, Wu continues to climb.

Her 8.01-second finish in the semifinal of the indoor championships not only etched her name into the record books, but also marked a turning point — one that crowned her Asia's best on March 27 and lifted her to 26th in the world at that time.

That same day, her image lit up the splash screen on Weibo.

"The version of me giving everything on the track — that's the one I love most," Wu said with a smile.

Highs and lows

The past two years have been anything but smooth. A false start disqualification at the Asian Games in Hangzhou cast a shadow over her 2023 season, and the disappointment lingered. But, Wu didn't give in. Instead, she regrouped and recalibrated — a move that paid off with her national record in Nanjing.

"These past two years have had more lows than highs, and coming back from those lows hasn't been easy," Wu said.

"But, I'm grateful to everyone who supported me — fans, friends, and family."

She credits the sport itself for shaping her. "Without track and field, no one would know who I am," Wu reflected. "This sport mirrors life. When you're down, you see how people treat you. And when you rise again, you see it just as clearly."

Her choice to race in full makeup has sparked online debate, but Wu shuts out the noise.

"You can't meet everyone's expectations. You can only do what you believe in," she said. "The road you walk, and the things you go through — those are your own unique experiences. To live a full life, you don't need to listen to the opinions of others."

At the indoor championships, she stepped onto the track dressed as the titular character from Alita: Battle Angel, a film that she said moved her deeply. "The story inspired me — perseverance, strength, and transformation. I wanted to bring that energy to the track and pass it on."

Finding her path

Born in 1997 in Fushun county, Zigong, Sichuan province, Wu was a lively child, often leading the neighborhood kids in games. Her mother enrolled her in piano and guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither) lessons, but her restless nature didn't suit quiet pursuits — she even broke the instruments. Dance became her first passion, but a local sports meet in 2009 would change everything.

After winning the 100-meter title, she caught the eye of a coach who urged her to pursue track. Her family was hesitant, but Wu knew she had found her path.

Hurdling wasn't love at first sight, just for fun — it was her coach's passion that drew her in. Slowly, it became her own.

In 2014, the passing of her grandfather hit her hard, but also gave her new resolve. Just a year later, she claimed her first national title at the Youth Games. From there, the momentum never stopped — multiple national wins, Universiade silver, and a place at the Paris Olympics.

Wu's Olympic debut didn't unfold as she'd hoped. She didn't make the semifinals in Paris. In the aftermath, she spoke with honesty: "I was aiming to break the national record in Paris, but, because of my own issues, I didn't run the race I wanted. It was a big disappointment," she said. "Still, Paris gave me experience — and every race is a chance to learn."

She's already looking ahead. "I hope to make up for my performance in Paris at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028," Wu said.

While Wu was hard on herself, her mother, Xiong Yan, felt only pride. "To compete in the Olympics is already deeply meaningful for a professional athlete," said Xiong, who was once a track and field athlete herself. "She chased her dream on that purple track."

Pushing to the limits

Besides her mother, behind Wu is a close-knit support team that has been with her through every high and low.

Following the Asian Games, her coaches revamped her training plan ahead of the 2024 World Indoor Championships in the Britain — a shift that helped pave the way for her Nanjing breakthrough.

"Sometimes I really don't want to train — I'm exhausted," Wu said. "But, the team keeps pushing me. 'You've got to break your personal best, you've got to break the record,' they say. That energy motivates me. And I try to give that energy back, too."

Among her closest collaborators is her fitness coach Lo Wing-yee, who began working with Wu in April 2023. "I've never trained an athlete at this level before," said Lo, who was previously a coach with the Hong Kong team. "But we've developed a rhythm. Sometimes just one word is enough — we understand each other."

Lo's training plans have pushed Wu to her limit. "She sometimes collapses on the track after a session," Lo said. "But that's what it takes to break records."

That moment finally came in Nanjing. In the women's 60m hurdles semifinals, Wu clocked 8.01 seconds — just enough to break the national record set in 2014 — but she wants more.

She cried after the race, but remained unsatisfied. "I trained so hard this winter — worked on my starts, my strength, my speed. Honestly, this still isn't the result I'm after," she said. "I want to go sub-eight seconds. That's my real goal."

With the National Games on the horizon, Wu's target is clear. "My biggest dream is still to perform on the international stage — make the top eight at the Olympics. But, the National Games gold — I lost it. I need to get it back," she said.

And she'll be running with a signature look — her short-cropped hair. "People say I look 10 years younger with it," she laughed. "This 'battle angel' look is staying. I hope everyone cheers me on when they see me at the National Games." Tracking Success delivers the inside story for global sports fans, exploring what makes elite performers tick, and providing insight into their biggest and most intriguing moments on and off the field of play.

FACTFILE

Name: Wu Yanni

Age: 27

Height: 175 cm

Birthplace: Zigong, Sichuan province

Event: Athletics (100m Hurdles/60m Hurdles)

Achievements: 2020-21 National Championships; Gold

2023 FISU World Universiade; Silver

2024 World Athletics Continental Tour, Osaka; Gold

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn