World Athletics announced the qualified athletes for the women's 100m hurdles on 26/8.

Yanni ranked 40th with 1,248 points. The top 40 athletes secured their places, meaning the Chinese athlete claimed the final spot.

Wu Yanni (center) competes in the first semifinal heat in Nanjing, China on 23/3. Photo: Xinhua

Yanni hasn't achieved the qualifying standard of 12.73 seconds for the 2025 World Championships. However, her strong performances in recent competitions earned her enough points to break into the world's top 40, securing her spot through the ranking system.

This marks China's first representation in the women's 100m hurdles at the World Championships since 2015, ending a 10-year drought.

Wu Shuijiao was the last Chinese athlete to compete in the event at the 2015 World Championships. She finished with a time of 13.06 seconds in the semifinals, failing to reach the final. However, she won gold at the 2015 IAAF World Challenge with a time of 12.85 seconds.

Wu Yanni celebrates a national record. Photo: Xinhua

Yanni has dominated the domestic scene, winning the Chinese national 100m hurdles title six times: in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Her personal best of 12.74 seconds was achieved at the National Championships on 30/6/2024 in Rizhao, Shandong, China. This was also the best time in Asia for 2024.

Born on 28/7/1997 in Zigong, a city in southern Sichuan, Yanni is known as the "athletics goddess of China". She has gained attention on social media for her outgoing personality and tattoos, which she views as symbols of her confidence.

In 2024, Yanni achieved her goal of competing in the Paris Olympics. However, she gave herself a score of zero for her performance in her signature event, the 100m hurdles, admitting she struggled to compete against her rivals.

Yanni is considered one of the most beautiful athletes in China. Photo: baidu

The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be held from 13/9 to 21/9 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. The championships will feature 49 events, including track and field, combined events, marathon, and race walking. It's considered a key test event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The women's 100m hurdles heats will begin at 11:28 a.m. Tokyo time on 14/9. The semifinals will take place at 9:05 p.m. the following day, with the final scheduled for 10:20 p.m. on 15/9.

Compiled by Hong Duy