Zheng Xiaoxuan Shines at 2024 Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships

At the recent 2024 Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Zheng Xiaoxuan attracted considerable attention by securing a bronze medal in her category with an impressive overall lift of 430 kilograms. This remarkable achievement included an astonishing squat of 175 kilograms, which is nearly three times her body weight, showcasing her incredible strength and talent as she prepares for the World Games 2025 slated for August.

Zheng embarked on her powerlifting journey as a response to her struggle with an eating disorder. After completing her undergraduate studies in the summer of 2020, she pursued her master's at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, where the flexibility of her new schedule led to weight gain and unregulated eating habits. In a touching interview, she described how her attempts to control her eating backfired, causing her struggles to worsen before she sought a healthier lifestyle.

Determined to regain control, Zheng began to exercise at the university gym, where she met Yi Ruolong, a doctoral student and her now partner. Their shared interest in fitness quickly blossomed into a supportive relationship, playing a crucial role in each other's growth in strength training. It was only in August 2023 that the couple decided to pursue professional competitions, with Yi recognizing Zheng's potential as an athlete through his deep understanding of weightlifting and upon coaching her during a formal contest.

Zheng soon registered for the Cross-Strait Invitational Powerlifting Tournament in Xiamen, Fujian province, in May 2024, where she achieved an impressive squat of 170.5 kilograms at a body weight of 60.15 kilograms, setting a new national record for women in the under 63 kg category. Throughout her journey, Zheng has remained grounded in her academic pursuits, maintaining a solid average score during her PhD studies and contributing to several reputable scientific publications.

As she maneuvers through the dual demands of academia and training, Zheng has adopted a disciplined, scientific approach to her powerlifting practice, meticulously planning and refining her methods to enhance her performance. Beyond the gym and lab, she finds peace in traveling and reflecting, always striving for balance and inspiration from the diverse world around her. With her PhD thesis nearing completion and the World Games on the horizon, Zheng's dedication to striving for excellence in both academia and sports continues to drive her forward.