Wu Yan, a rising star in weightlifting from Changzhou, dazzled at the 2024 IWF World Weightlifting Championships held in Manama, Bahrain, on December 15 (Beijing time). Competing in the women’s 87kg category, the 23-year-old claimed three gold medals in snatch, clean and jerk, and total weight, marking her first world championship titles. Wu’s remarkable feat also earned Changzhou its 31st world champion, further solidifying the city’s weightlifting legacy.
The championships, held from December 7 to 17, brought together top athletes from around the globe, with China fielding a full-strength squad of 20 competitors. While established champions like Liao Guifang and Pei Xinyi led the roster, Wu Yan emerged as one of the 18 debutants to steal the spotlight. Demonstrating flawless precision, she successfully completed all six of her attempts, lifting a snatch of 122kg, a clean and jerk of 150kg, and achieving a total of 272kg — a personal best that left her nearest rival trailing by 15kg.
Wu’s journey to the global stage has been a testament to her dedication and talent. Born in 2001, she joined the Changzhou weightlifting team in 2013, where her potential quickly caught the attention of coaches. Her breakout moment came in 2018 at the 19th Jiangsu Provincial Games, where she won gold in the 75kg (16–17 age group) category, earning a spot on the provincial team. By 2021, she had advanced to the national team, setting the stage for her meteoric rise.
Her achievements have continued to elevate her status in the weightlifting community. In November 2022, Wu broke three national records and secured triple gold in the 81kg category at the National Women’s Weightlifting Championships. The following year, in April 2023, she set another national snatch record while clinching gold in the same category. Most recently, at the National Weightlifting Championships and the 15th National Games qualifying event earlier this year, she dominated the 81kg category with a snatch of 118kg, a clean and jerk of 140kg, and a total of 258kg, demonstrating her consistent upward trajectory.
Weightlifting is deeply rooted in Changzhou’s sporting culture. Established in 1956, the city’s weightlifting team has a storied history, producing a lineup of champions, including world champion Song Zhijuan, world junior champion Liu Dongping, Asian snatch champion Zhuang Gongping, and national champion Chen Hao. Wu Yan’s latest triumph further cements Changzhou’s status as a cradle of weightlifting excellence, contributing to both national pride and international recognition.
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