National Games: China’s ‘Flying Glasses’ hurdler Xu Zhuoyi the man to beat
Known as much for his running as his unusual appearance, the 22-year-old has been in strong form this season
Standing at 1.92 metres (six feet, six inches), with long dangling arms and a face framed by long hair and glasses, Xu Zhuoyi does not look like a typical 110m hurdler, and this is exactly what has engrossed his Chinese fans and led to the nickname “Flying Glasses”.
During the Paris Olympics last year, Xu won over fans at home with his “nerdy” look and became a social media sensation, with some joking they thought they had tuned in to the mathematics Olympiad when they saw him on the starting block.
But Xu has risen through the ranks to become one of his country’s best, collecting an Asian Championships silver medal and Asian Games bronze along the way. He is tipped to compete at his second Olympics in 2028.
Early life
Born on August 21, 2003 in Xuyao, a small village in Shanghai’s Songjiang district, Xu attended Fangta Primary School, where his father was a PE teacher, and from an early age showed a love for sport.
“Xu Zhuoyi has always been lively and active, with a cheerful personality,” Xu’s father told Chinese media. “When he was in third grade, the coaching team from Songjiang No 7 Middle School came to select promising athletes and noticed him.
“After observing and testing his physique and physical qualities, they believed he was a promising talent.”