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 award China gave her for winning an Olympic medal.
- 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 & 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
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