Zhuang Xiaoyan
Encyclopedia
Zhuang Xiaoyan is a Chinese judo
coach, former international judo champion, and winner of the gold medal for judo in the women's +72 kg (heavyweight) division at the 1992 Summer Olympics
. Her medal was China
's first Olympic gold medal in judo.
, Liaoning
, China. Her parents worked in a fertiliser plant. She initially trained in shot put
, discus
, and javelin
, but changed to judo at the age of 14 years. A year later, she was selected for the Liaoning provincial judo team. Her nickname amongst her fellow athletes was 'Tiger.'
. Her coach for international competition was Liu Yongfu. She was listed at 173 cm (5' 8") in height and 98 kg (217 lb.) in weight.
More international victories followed for Zhuang at the 1990 Asian Games
in Beijing and the 1991 World Judo Championships
in Barcelona. At the 1992 Summer Olympics, Zhuang defeated Estela Rodríguez Villanueva
from Cuba to win the gold medal in the women's +72 kg division
for judo. This was China's first Olympic gold medal in judo, and was the first of three consecutive victories for China in this competition—Sun Fuming
(1996) and Yuan Hua
(2000) also won Olympic gold medals in the heaviest women's division in judo.
Following her Olympic victory, Zhuang married and had twin daughters, but separated from her husband a few years later. She retired from judo competition in 1995.
in Beijing. Her fingerprints and footprints are preserved in the flagstones of Beidaihe Olympic Avenue Park, Beidaihe District, along with those of 44 other Chinese Olympic champions. She now trains judo competitors at the Liaoning provincial institute of sports technology.
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
coach, former international judo champion, and winner of the gold medal for judo in the women's +72 kg (heavyweight) division at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. Her medal was China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's first Olympic gold medal in judo.
Early life
Zhuang was born on 4 May 1969 in ShenyangShenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
, Liaoning
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
, China. Her parents worked in a fertiliser plant. She initially trained in shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
, discus
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
, and javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
, but changed to judo at the age of 14 years. A year later, she was selected for the Liaoning provincial judo team. Her nickname amongst her fellow athletes was 'Tiger.'
Competitive judo career
In 1986, Zhuang joined the Chinese national judo team. That same year, she came second in the National Judo Championship. In 1987, she was champion in the women's open class at the National Games, and in 1988, she took victory in the same class at the International Judo Championships. Through the late 1980s, she also competed in tournaments at FukuokaFukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
. Her coach for international competition was Liu Yongfu. She was listed at 173 cm (5' 8") in height and 98 kg (217 lb.) in weight.
More international victories followed for Zhuang at the 1990 Asian Games
Judo at the 1990 Asian Games
The Judo competition at the 1990 Asian Games was contested in sixteen weight classes, eight each for men and women.-Men's events:-Women's events:- Medals table :...
in Beijing and the 1991 World Judo Championships
1991 World Judo Championships
The 1991 World Judo Championships were the 17th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Barcelona, Spain from July 25 to July 28, 1991.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:...
in Barcelona. At the 1992 Summer Olympics, Zhuang defeated Estela Rodríguez Villanueva
Estela Rodríguez
Estela Rodríguez Villanueva is a retired Cuban judoka. She won silver medals at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics, both in the Half Heavyweight category.-References:*...
from Cuba to win the gold medal in the women's +72 kg division
Judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics
The Judo competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was contested in fourteen weight classes, seven each for men and women. The seven men's weight classes continued to be those first used in 1980. This was the first Olympic competition to award medals to women judoka; women competed in 1988 as a...
for judo. This was China's first Olympic gold medal in judo, and was the first of three consecutive victories for China in this competition—Sun Fuming
Sun Fuming
Sun Fuming is a female Chinese judoka who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and in the 2004 Summer Olympics.She won the gold medal in the heavyweight class in 1996. Eight years later she won the bronze medal in the heavyweight class.-References:*...
(1996) and Yuan Hua
Yuan Hua
Yuan Hua is a Chinese judoka and olympic champion. She won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.-References:...
(2000) also won Olympic gold medals in the heaviest women's division in judo.
Following her Olympic victory, Zhuang married and had twin daughters, but separated from her husband a few years later. She retired from judo competition in 1995.
Post-competition career
Zhuang was one of the torchbearers in the Olympic torch relay for the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing. Her fingerprints and footprints are preserved in the flagstones of Beidaihe Olympic Avenue Park, Beidaihe District, along with those of 44 other Chinese Olympic champions. She now trains judo competitors at the Liaoning provincial institute of sports technology.
See also
- Chen ZhongChen ZhongChen Zhong is a retired Chinese taekwondo competitor who represented her country at international level for more than 10 years, including three consecutive Summer Olympic Games. She won China's first Olympic gold medal in taekwondo at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and successfully defended...
- China at the 1992 Summer OlympicsChina at the 1992 Summer OlympicsThe People's Republic of China competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.-Medalists:After the olympics, the name "Five Golden Flowers" was given to the five medalist swimmers Yang Wenyi , Zhuang Yong , Lin Li , Qian Hong and Wang Xiaohong...
- Judo at the Summer OlympicsJudo at the Summer OlympicsJudo was first included in the Summer Olympic Games at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, Japan. After not being included in 1968, judo has been an Olympic sport in each Olympiad since then. Only male judoka participated until the 1988 Summer Olympics, when women participated as a demonstration sport...
External links
- China Daily: Zhuang Xiaoyan contains a photograph of Zhuang (c. 1992).
- DataSports163: 庄晓岩 contains a photograph of Zhuang (c. 2005).