The IWUF officially announced the winners of IWUF Athlete of the Year 2024 on February 27, 2025. Qingchun Zhang, a 24-year-old Chinese wushu athlete, was honoured as the 2024 Wushu Taolu Athlete of the Year with 16,990 votes from 10 candidates.
Behind the Honour: 19 Years of Perseverance on the Wushu Path
He states, ‘I know that this honour doesn't just belong to me personally, it belongs to all the coaches, teammates and supporters who have quietly dedicated themselves to wushu. Without their help and encouragement, I could not have come this far. This award is a recognition of our entire team and an encouragement for global wushu promotion. I am warmed by the support and love from the global audience.’ 24-years-old Zhang has been involved in the field of wushu for 19 years. He started learning wushu at the age of 5 and entered the secondary team of the Beijing Wushu team at the age of 9. When he was 16, he made it into Beijing professional team. He won 1st place in Jianshu in National Junior Wushu Taolu Championships, and triple gold in changquan, jianshu, qiangshu at the 14th Beijing City Games. In 2022 National Wushu Taolu Championships in Linyi, Shandong, China, Zhang won two bronze medal in men’s qiangshu and jianshu. At the 16th World Wushu Championships in Fort Worth, USA in 2023, Zhang made his successful international debut, eventually collecting the gold medal in men's qiangshu.
In 2024, Qingchun Zhang won the fourth place in men's changquan in the National Wushu Taolu Championships & Team Trails for 10th Asian Wushu Championships. In the same year, Qingchun Zhang won the gold medal in the 3rd Taolu World Cup in Yokohama, Japan.
Chinese Wushu Association evaluated him in nomination: “Consistently demonstrating a positive and determined attitude, Zhang has always spared no effort in bringing pride to his country. In training, he is hardworking and committed, facing challenges head-on. His performance in both national and international competitions has been outstanding, reflecting his dedication and high skills. With a solid foundation in professional skills, Zhang excels in technical proficiency, competition experience, and perseverance. He embodies the true sportsmanship, upholding the principles of fair play, professionalism, and integrity. His attitude and determination towards wushu reflects the strong energy, resilience, and drive of a young athlete striving for excellence. His ability to stay focused under pressure and continuously improve sets him apart as a well-rounded competitor. Zhang's achievements both on and off the field are a testament to his character and commitment to the sport.”
Inside and Outside the Carpet: The Disseminator of Wushu Culture
Wushu, as a cultural symbol, is not only the inheritance of skills, but also the continuation of cultural lineage. Qingchun Zhang believes that winning the award of 2024 Wushu Taolu Athlete of the Year is not only an affirmation of his personal efforts and dedication, but also a recognition of the Chinese Wushu culture. He hopes to promote the spirit of wushu, spread the culture of wushu through his continuous efforts and play a role model to inspire and encourage the next generation of athletes to strive for progress.
In addition to achieving excellent results in the field, Qingchun Zhang is also actively involved in the promotion of wushu culture. In the popular variety show ‘China Wushu King of Kings’, QingChun Zhang showed the charm of wushu to the public by advancing to the top four with his outstanding performance. As a member of Generation Z, Qingchun Zhang also has his own views on the promotion of wushu, saying, ‘I hope to expand the influence of wushu by combining it with popular culture such as films, games, and animation. Then we can cultivate outstanding athletes to become internationally influential wushu stars, and through their influence, attract more people to pay attention to and learn wushu.’
Speaking of the global reception he has received, Qingchun feels honored and grateful. ‘Wushu is not only a sport, but also a cultural bridge that connects people from different countries and nationalities. Through my performance, I hope that more people will understand and love wushu and feel the spirit of peace, respect and resilience. In the future, I will continue to work hard to improve myself and contribute to the promotion of wushu culture and international exchange.’
Talking about how to motivate the next generation of wushu athletes, he said, ‘I hope that games and fun activities can be added to training to avoid boring repetitive exercises, so that young athletes can feel the fun of wushu. More group training, team competitions or performances will be held to cultivate their spirit of cooperation and sense of collective honour. By explaining the history, and cultural heritage of wushu, let young athletes feel the philosophy and cultural background of wushu, and help them understand that wushu is not only a technique, but also a spirit.’
Goal of 2025: Trumiph at The 15th National Games
Speaking of his goal for 2025, Qingchun is very excited, and this is an important year for him. In his prime he is actively preparing for the 2025 National Games, and although he has already won two international gold medals, he still hopes to build on his wushu efforts. He said he will do his best to compete for gold at the National Games and strive to stand on the podium. He will also play a leading role in the team and make an example for the young athletes, and continue to carry forward the spirit of wushu in daily life, dedicated his efforts to promote and spread of wushu.
He is confident about the future of wushu, and he believes that the sport will spread globally and become a popular form of sport and culture. This young wushu star will also continue to make more people feel the charm of wushu with his actions.
