At the National Games women’s 100m hurdles final, the highly favored Wu Yanni delivered her season’s best but still fell short of the title. Instead, the spotlight shifted to 28-year-old Liu Jingyang, who shocked everyone with an unexpected victory. Even more inspiring—after stepping onto the podium wearing visibly worn-out shoes, she donated her entire 700,000 RMB prize.
Throughout her athletic career, Liu Jingyang had never broken the 13-second barrier in an official race. Yet on the biggest stage of the National Games, she rose to the moment, clocking an astonishing 12.81 seconds, surprising athletes, coaches, and spectators alike. Even Wu Yanni’s coach admitted, “Liu Jingyang performed way above her usual level.”
During the award ceremony, her battered shoes immediately caught everyone’s eye—the soles had been worn completely smooth. Reports say she bought the pair three years ago using money earned from part-time jobs. She kept wearing them simply because she had grown accustomed to the feel.
In the stands, her mother—dressed simply—cried with pride, saying, “My daughter has suffered too much.” She also revealed that Liu Jingyang didn’t have a dedicated personal coach. Liu later clarified that she does have one, but she was only training under auxiliary guidance.
After winning gold, Liu received a 700,000 RMB bonus from the Guangdong Sports Bureau. Touchingly, she donated every cent to her alma mater, Shaoguan Sports School. The school has already purchased its first batch of training equipment thanks to her support.
When asked why she chose to donate the entire amount, Liu responded earnestly:
“My mom always said: we suffered because we didn’t have a proper coach, and we can’t let the next generation go through the same thing. Other athletes get customized training, but my mom and I had to learn technique from video tapes.”
She acknowledged that 700,000 RMB is not enough for a home down payment in Guangzhou, but in her hometown school, it could change young lives:
“It might change the fate of dozens of children.”
Her mother fully supported the decision:
“It's your hard-earned money. As long as you feel at peace, I’m happy.”
