High jump star could be expelled from the national team

China’s rising high jump star Zhang Guo Wei was expelled from the Chinese national team for participating in unapproved commercial activities. He was named the China’s future high jump star when he broke the Chinese record height for the high jump in 2013 at the age of 22. He then participated in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and claimed the silver medal. A year later, he competed in the 2015 World Champion in Athletics in Beijing and received yet another silver medal. This was the peak of his career. Following these competitions, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he suffered three failed attempts and was then injured during the high jump event.

During this recovery period, Zhang Guo Wei participated in countless online commercial activities, including several TV shows. He was known by audiences and fans for his sense of humor. Whenever he entered onstage, he would prepare a pocketful of flower petals to throw upwards to mark his entrance. After his injury, more people began to recognize him from his TV show appearances, and as a result of his commercial commitments, his performances began to deteriorate. At the peak of his career, he could jump a height of 2.38 meters, but at the start of this year, he could only jump up to 2.21 meters, a significant decline. The Chinese Athletics Management Center were not pleased with the athlete’s commitment and warned him to improve his performances, but he didn’t heed their forewarning. According to the Management Center, he attended two commercial shows after creating excuses for his absence from sports between the end of February and the start of March. This action directly violated the “Provisions on the Administration of National Track and Field Training Teams.” As a result, the Chinese Athletics Management Center proceeded to expel Zhang Guo Wei from the national team. Athletes should focus on winning titles for their team instead of attending commercial activities to try to make more money.

Featured Image – Zhang Guo Wei doing his famous celebration “The White Crane” Courtesy of T. Marshall

by Andy Kim