Wang Zhouyu: Yichang's weightlifting powerhouse

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

Yichang's very own Wang Zhouyu, a female weightlifter, is one of China's top Olympic gold medalists and a two-time world champion. Now, Wang is training for the upcoming Paris Olympics in July 2024.

In the women's 87kg weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics, Wang pocketed a gold medal, becoming Yichang's first Olympic weightlifting champion.
 

Wang Zhouyu celebrates during the Tokyo Olympics medal ceremony.

Wang is also a two-time world weightlifting champion, having won the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships in Turkmenistan and the 2019 competition in Thailand. Wang is the first athlete in Yichang's history to win the women's world weightlifting championship.

Weightlifting events will be cut to 10 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games from 14 at Tokyo 2020, with weight classes also undergoing significant changes. In Paris, the women's events will comprise of 49kg, 59kg, 71kg, 81kg and +81kg.

Wang decided to cut weight in order to compete in the 81kg class for the upcoming Olympic cycle. "The Olympic cycle in Paris is tough for me and I will prepare for every competition," Wang said.

Wang was born in May 1994 in Lucheng Town, Yidu City. "As a child, she was a tomboy," said Wang's mother, Li Yaping. During her primary school years, Wang showed a natural talent in sports and joined the track and field team.

By chance, a coach from Wuhan noticed her explosive power during an athletic competition. He suggested Xiong Wuhua, the coach of Yidu Children's and Youth Sports School, to send her to weightlifting training.

Following the advice of her coach and parents, Wang began lifting weights at the age of 11. In 2007, she entered the Yichang Sports School for weightlifting training. In 2010, she joined the Hubei Provincial Weightlifting Training Team, and by 2014, she was a member of the National Weightlifting Team.

Since the age of 19, Wang has won numerous medals, including her first gold at the 2013 Asian Junior Championships, and two gold medals in the 75kg category at the 2015 Asian Championships in Thailand and the 2017 National Games in China.