Chinese javelin thrower Yan Ziyi enters the winter training season aiming for the world record after setting the second-longest throw in women’s history at 71.74 meters during the 2026 Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, chinadaily.com.cn reported.
That May 23 throw arrived just a day after her 18th birthday, eclipsing her previous personal best of 65.89 meters and leaving her within 54 centimeters of the 72.28-meter world record set by Czech athlete Barbora Spotakova in 2008. Chinadaily.com.cn noted that the distance surprised even the competitor herself, who had anticipated reaching only 66 or 67 meters during the 2026 season.
😳18-year-old Ziyi Yan of China had a MASSIVE first throw in the javelin of 71.74m for a new U20 WORLD RECORD and No. 2 all-time on the senior list. Yan held the previous U20 world record at 65.89m. She now holds the top 8 U20 javelin marks of all-time and is just behind world… pic.twitter.com/JTlcFfIrsN
“I didn’t expect to produce that result,” Yan said, according to chinadaily.com.cn. “I had thrown 71m once during winter training. Perhaps the coordination with my coach was particularly good, and I had accumulated a lot of energy.”
Born in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, in 2008, Yan began training at a local sports school around age 10 after coach Lu Xiurong spotted her potential, chinadaily.com.cn reported. She initially focused on the shot put before shifting entirely to the javelin after winning both disciplines at the 2023 ISF U15 Gymnasiade.
The 2026 season brought victories across the Diamond League circuit, with wins in Xiamen, Oslo, Paris, and Monaco, followed by a finals title in Brussels in September, chinadaily.com.cn reported. At the Asian Games in Nagoya that same month, she secured gold with an opening throw of 70.46 meters, breaking the previous Games record held by compatriot Liu Shiying by 4.37 meters.
Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi, the Paris Olympic champion, took silver in Nagoya with a throw of 62.70 meters, chinadaily.com.cn stated.
Yan’s habit of securing victories on her first attempt earned her the nickname “Yan One and Done” among fans, though her approach remains cautious, chinadaily.com.cn reported. She withdrew after two attempts at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September due to foot pain caused by overexertion.
“If you keep exhausting your body, it will affect the later stages of your career,” Yan said, as reported by chinadaily.com.cn. “For my long-term development, I have to put protecting myself first, so that I can have a longer career and continue to compete for my country.”
With another winter of training ahead, Yan is targeting the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, which are scheduled to run from September 10 to 19, chinadaily.com.cn reported.
| Event / Milestone | Date / Year | Distance / Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Record Benchmark | 2008 | 72.28 meters | Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) |
| Diamond League Record | May 23, 2026 | 71.74 meters | Xiamen, China |
| Asian Games Record | September 2026 | 70.46 meters | Nagoya, Japan |
| National Title | 2025 | 65.89 meters | China |
“Even after I stop competing, I hope that when people mention javelin, they will remember me,” Yan said, according to chinadaily.com.cn.
