Jiani Wu

What was it like growing up in China before they were a gymnastics super power? Jiani tells us all about it. A native of Shanghai back when China was a closed society, Jiani was one of the first allowed to compete outside of the country. Wu helped the Chinese women win their first World Championships team medal, a silver at the 1981 Worlds in Moscow and a bronze for the team at the 1984 Olympics.We discuss:

• Adjusting to coaching in the United States and working with parents.
• The Yurchenko loop and Teza skills that she was doing back in the 70's.
• Her coaching philosophy and how it ties into her experience as an accidental champion.
• Secret romances and how she met her husband in the training halls of the national training center.
• The training schedule and beam complex seriousness of the Chinese training regime.
• Gymnastics urban legend busting about China's conditioning, pizza and hamburgers.
• What China was like in the 1970's before their athletes were allowed to compete outside of the country.
• Coaching both of her daughters, 2012 Olympic alternate Anna Li and level 9 Andrea Li.
• That time she Yin Alvarez'd when Gabby Perea hit her bar routine.
• The major awardChina gave her for winning an Olympic medal.

Legacy Elite Gymnastics

• 106: Biles and Ross Dominate the 2014 US Secret Classic
• 2014 Senior Secret Classic Competition Photo Gallery
• 2014 Junior Secret Classic Competition Photo Gallery
• Photo Gallery of Podium Training at the 2014 Secret Classic
• 88: Rhonda Faehn with Mackenzie Caquatto
• Episode 3: Russian Regime Change, Fashion Code and a Chat With Anna Li
• Episode 17: Growing Up In The Soviet Gymnastics System And Training At Round Lake
• Episode 5: Growing up at WOGA

Jiani Wu performing the Yurchenko Loop

Jiani Wu performing her eponymous skill on bars.

Watch the playlist for this episode here.