2026-04-01 08:39:30
3月25日， former Chinese national gymnastics team member Wu Liu Fang shared her post-retirement journey in an interview.
Wu Liu Fang retired from the national team in 2013 and entered university in 2014 under national athlete education policies. She graduated in 2018 and faced two career options: receiving a lump-sum retirement allowance or remaining with her provincial team as an assistant coach without the allowance.
She chose the former, using the full retirement payment to contribute to her family’s down payment on a 70-square-meter apartment in her hometown. This marked the first time her family owned a home after years of renting.
After graduation, she joined a sports company in Hangzhou, implementing gymnastics outreach programs in schools and participating in public welfare activities. Her salary was 4,000 yuan per month in the first year and increased to 6,000 yuan in the second year.
The company suspended operations after one year, leading to delayed wages. Upon contract expiration, she left and pursued dual pathways: seeking gymnastics coaching positions while obtaining a dance instructor qualification.
In 2019, she was hired by a sports school near Hangzhou on a contractual basis, with no confirmed编制 (institutional staffing). After two years, she remained without formal employment status and earned less than in her previous role.
By 2023, financial pressures intensified. Her parents, both tailors, experienced declining business revenue. Her younger brother had just entered university and was not yet employed. She became the sole stable income earner for the household.
A medical crisis emerged when her mother underwent surgery for malignant tumor. Wu learned of the diagnosis only during a visit home, discovering that her parents had concealed extensive treatment costs and accumulated credit card debt across multiple banks to cover expenses.
She subsequently left the sports school and transitioned into internet live streaming as a content creator.
Wu Liu Fang represented China at international competitions between 2009 and 2011. She won a team silver and individual bronze at the 2009 National Games. She claimed six gold, two silver, and two bronze medals across 22 FIG World Cup events from 2010 to 2011, finishing as the 2010 World Cup overall series champion.
She was selected for the 2011 World Championships team but did not compete. Persistent back injuries affected her performance ahead of the 2012 London Olympics; during a selection trial, she suffered a cervical spine injury while performing a dismount on the balance beam.
Her final competitive appearance for the national team was at the 2013 East Asian Games in Tianjin, where she won the women’s team championship.
Following her streaming career launch, she repaid approximately 400,000 yuan in family debt with support from her audience. She has since received invitations for public engagements and brand collaborations.
She continues to express interest in resuming participation in public welfare initiatives when financially feasible.
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