19-Year-Old’s Sudden Exit Leads to Major Change in World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023

Published 10/06/2023, 9:30 AM EDT

Follow Us

Ou Yushan is a distinguished Chinese gymnast who was a part of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She has earned a reputation as a four-time champion at the Summer University Games. Alongside that, she clinched a bronze medal in the all-around competition at the 2019 Junior World Championships.

Hailing from the Guangdong province, she has consistently represented her region in domestic gymnastics competitions. Her elite gymnastics journey began in May 2018. The young gymnast made her debut at the Chinese National Championships for the first time. During appearances over there, she played a pivotal role in securing first place in the competition. However, the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships underwent a transformation due to the unexpected withdrawal of the athlete.

Championships in flux exit alter the landscape in 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Previously, Ou qualified for the floor final, although she did not participate. She continued to shine in the subsequent Chinese Nationals a year later. Which once again helped the Guangdong team claim the top spot. Her skills on the uneven bars earned her a third-place finish and second-place on-the-floor exercise. Most impressively, she clinched the gold medal on the balance beam. Watch this recent tweet by talking about her probable replacement.

This is not the first time she decided to withdraw from the competition due to injury.  Ou faced a setback when she missed the Chinese National Championships in September due to a knee injury. The incident highlights the physical toll of gymnastics. Her prowess led to her selection as a member of China’s three-person team for the inaugural Junior World Championships held in Győr, Hungary. She not only contributed to the team’s success, but also garnered individual honors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Ou Yushan’s excellence and withdrawal

In 2021, Ou returned to the competition at the Chinese Championships. There she stood atop the podium with the Guangdong team, claiming the gold medal. She also displayed her skills individually, finishing sixth in the all-around and eighth on the floor exercise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Ou Yushan’s gymnastics journey reached its pinnacle when she was named to the Chinese Olympic team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Competing in various events, she played a crucial role in helping China secure the third position. In the team final, she faced challenges, experiencing a fall on the vault along with her teammate Tang Xijing. These errors, combined with other mistakes, resulted in China finishing in seventh place at the Olympics. Despite these ups and downs, Ou’s gymnastics career reflects her talent and achievements on the international stage.

Watch This Story: As Simone Biles and Michael Phelps Work Towards Mental Health Another Rising Gymnast Breaks Silence on Self Care in Sports

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Shayni Maitra

404Articles

One take at a time

Shayni Maitra is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing her degree in Psychology from a reputed institute, Shayni has been actively involved with entertainment writing for a year. Her role as an Olympic writer combines her admiration for sports, especially Gymnastics.
Show More>

Edited by:

Parth Sharma