Wu Guonian

Wu Guonian, a former Chinese Men’s Gymnastics national team member, has over 40 years of gymnastics experience. In 1972, at the age of 12, Guonian Wu was recruited by the Guizhou Province Gymnastics team where his professional gymnastics career began. From that moment, Guonian found his passion in life. Through hard work, determination, and dedication, Wu Guonian was selected to become a member of the Chinese National Gymnastics team in 1979. Wu Guonian trained, competed and represented the Chinese National Gymnastics Team until 1983.

Throughout his competitive career, Wu Guonian has won numerous titles on Floor, Pommel Horse, and Vault at both National Gymnastics Championships and International Competitions. Wu Guonian’s most notable achievement to the sport of gymnastics is the invention of two specific skills. Both skills were created by and named after Guonian Wu and are included in the Code of Points by the International Gymnastics Federation. The first skill has a D value on Floor Exercise and the other more recognized move is an E Value Pommel Horse skill.

After a successful gymnastics career as an athlete, Wu Guonian completed his education at the Beijing Sport University earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Gymnastics. He then began his coaching career in 1988 at the Beijing Gymnastics Programs as a boys’ team coach. While coaching in China, Guonian became a gymnastic’s judge.

Wu Guonian has received many honors and awards as a coach and judge including: named one of “The Ten Best Judges of Beijing” in 1998, became certified as a Senior Coach by the Beijing Municipal government, awarded the title, “Master of Sports” and has had published numerous written articles on the subject of Gymnastics in multiple magazines. Coach Wu also led the Beijing team (one of the top teams to represent China) to win the team title four times at the China National Gymnastics Championships.

In 1998, Guonian moved to the United States and began a new chapter of coaching gymnastics in America. He has over 17 years of extensive professional coaching experience in the Junior Olympics (J.O.) Program which includes 9 years of National team level coaching experience. Since being in the United States, coach Wu has developed 16 Junior National Champions and 7 U.S. Champions. In 2004, as head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team at the Pan American Games in El Salvador, he led the team to win the team title. He has coached six athletes which made the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team & Junior National Development team. Guonian has also been a certified FIG judge for over 22 years.

On February 6-7, 2016, Wu Guonian hosted his first annual Wu Guonian Classic Competition. This competition was created to inspire young gymnastics athletes from all over the world. The meet celebrates ambition, drive, hard work, and dedication for all gymnastic athletes and future stars. It is a reminder to young gymnasts that if they remain passionate and committed, success will follow; much like the gymnastics career of Guonian Wu.