"Jayden" Yuan Xiaochao (; born 7 August 1988) is a retired professional wushu taolu athlete and actor from China. He was a world champion in 2005 and 2007.

Career

Competitive wushu

Yuan started to practice martial arts in Songjiang Martial Arts School in 1998 and later joined the Shanxi Provincial Wushu Team. Yuan's international debut was at the 2005 East Asian Games where he won a bronze medal in changquan. He then appeared at the 2005 World Wushu Championships and was the world champion in changquan. Later in the year, he competed in the 2005 National Games of China and won the gold medal in men's daoshu and gunshu combined. Yuan then competed in the 2006 Asian Games and won the gold medal in men's changquan all-around. He then was a world champion once again in changquan at the 2007 World Wushu Championships. This qualified him for the 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament where he won the gold medal in men's changquan. He won yet another gold medal in men's changquan at the 2009 World Games. Yuan then competed in the 2009 National Games of China and was a double silver medalist in changquan and daoshu/gunshu combined. His last international competition was at the

2010 Asian Games The 2010 Asian Games (), officially known as the XVI Asian Games () and also known as Guangzhou 2010 (), was a regional multi-sport event celebrated from November 12 to November 27, 2010 in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, although several events ...

where he won the gold medal in men's changquan.

Acting

After retiring from competitive wushu taolu, he adopted the first-name "Jayden." He starred in ''

Tai Chi 0 ''Tai Chi 1: 0'' (太極之零開始) or ''Tai Chi Zero'' (太極：從零開始) is a 2012 Chinese 3D martial arts film directed by Stephen Fung. It is a fictitious retelling of how the Chen style of the martial art t'ai chi ch'uan, that for ...

'' (2012) and its sequel ''

Tai Chi Hero ''Tai Chi Hero'' (太極２英雄崛起) is a 2012 Hong Kong-Chinese 3D martial arts film directed by Stephen Fung, written and produced by Chen Kuo-fu. It is the sequel to Fung's 2012 film '' Tai Chi Zero''. It was released in Hong Kong on 25 ...

'' (2012).

Personal life

Yuan's uncles include

Yuan Wenqing Yuan Wenqing (; born 1966) is a retired professional wushu taolu athlete from Shanxi, China. Nicknamed 'the prince of wushu,' he was known for his explosive speed and power, and is still widely regarded as one of the greatest wushu practitioner ...

and Yuan Xindong, both of which were also members of the Shanxi wushu team.

References

External links