Xu Yongjiu (; born 29 October 1964) is a Chinese former

racewalking Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Referee, Race judges careful ...

athlete. She was Asia's first world champion in the sport. From the Chinese province of

Liaoning Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...

, China FactFile Sports and Health
Government of China. Retrieved on 2015-07-21. Xu trained at the Hebei Xinglong National Athletic Training Base. She had the greatest season of her career in 1983. On her international debut at the

1983 IAAF World Race Walking Cup The 1983 IAAF World Race Walking Cup was held on 24 and 25 September 1983 in the streets of Bergen, Norway. The event was also known as ''IAAF Race Walking World Cup''. Complete results were published. Medallists Results Men's 20 km Men' ...

she came away with the gold medal, also leading China's women to a team victory. This made her Asia's first ever world champion in racewalking. Her winning time of 45:14 minutes was the fastest for the

10 kilometres race walk The 10 kilometres race walk, or 10-kilometer racewalk, is a racewalking event. The event is competed as a road race. Athletes must always keep in contact with the ground and the supporting leg must remain straight until the raised leg passes it ...

that year.World Top Performers 1980-2005: Women (Outdoor)
GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-07-21. She claimed the first ever women's walk title at the National Games of China later that year, beating all national opposition in 49:04 minutes. Xu attempted a title defence at the

1985 IAAF World Race Walking Cup The 1985 IAAF World Race Walking Cup was held on 28 and 29 September 1985 in the streets of St John's, Isle of Man. The event was also known as ''IAAF Race Walking World Cup''. Complete results were published. Medallists Results Men's 20 k ...

, but lost out in a close affair in fifth place, ten seconds behind the winner. She was again part of the gold medal-winning team as the Chinese women were led by the top two finishers Yan Hong and Guan Ping.IAAF WORLD RACE WALKING CUP - SARANSK 2012 - FACTS & FIGURES
IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-07-20. On time she ranked third globally that year, with 44:45 minutes, behind only her countrywomen Yan and Guan. 44:45A women's walking event was added for the first time to the continental programme at the

1986 Asian Games The 1986 Asian Games ( ko, 1986년 아시아 경기대회/1986년 아시안 게임, Cheon gubaek palsip-yuk nyeon Asia gyeonggi daehoe/Cheon gubaek palsip-yuk nyeon Asian Geim), officially known as the 10th Asian Games and the X Asiad ( ko, 제10 ...

and the Chinese women were dominant, with Guan winning the race and Xu in second place ten seconds in arrears. Her final appearance at global level came at the

1987 IAAF World Race Walking Cup The 1987 IAAF World Race Walking Cup was held on 2 and 3 May 1987 in the streets of New York City, USA. The event was also known as ''IAAF Race Walking World Cup''. Complete results were published. Medallists Results Men's 20 km Men's 50 ...

, but this was among the worst results for her country at the competition, as the trio of Xu, Yan and Guan were all disqualified for foot lifting, leaving the national team down in an historic low of ninth place. After her retirement she remarked upon the extreme pressures she had gone through to reach the heights of the sport: "Several times I fainted on the training grounds. I will never forget that moment so painful that one can no longer feel pain." Academic Susan Brownell placed Xu's suffering within a wider context of the theme of self-sacrifice in Chinese

women's sports The participation of women and girls in sports, physical Physical fitness, fitness and exercise, has been recorded to have existed throughout history. However, participation rates and activities vary in accordance with nation, era, geography, ...

.Brownell, Susan
"Gender in the Chinese Nation"
''The Nation/state and Its Sexual Dissidents'' (Jan 1996). Retrieved on 2015-07-21.

International competitions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xu, Yongjiu Living people 1964 births Athletes from Liaoning Chinese female racewalkers Asian Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Asian Games Asian Games silver medalists for China Medalists at the 1986 Asian Games World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships winners