17-Year-Old Track & Field Star Faces Heartbreak as Unique World Athletics Reason Forces Tokyo Miss After Win

Just as the world’s eyes were glued to the World Championships, 17-year-old Chinese javelin sensation Yan Ziyi quietly announced her arrival on the global stage. This season has been nothing short of spectacular, with record-breaking throws despite battling injuries and juggling school life. Her standout performance at the Chinese Championships, a personal best of 65.89m, has alerted the elite of the javelin world. Yet, in a cruel twist, she will miss the upcoming World Championships.

Shattering records at every turn, she currently ranks 12th among the world’s javelin throwers and holds titles as the World U20 champion and two-time national champion. Yet, despite her dominance, she will not compete at the World Championships in Tokyo. Why? Well, as per the rules of the World Athletics Championships, “Under 18 Athletes – Athletes aged 16 or 17 years on 31 December 2025 (born in 2008 or 2009), may compete in any event except the throwing events, the Combined Events, 10,000m, Marathon and the Race Walks.” Quite a sad tale for the young athlete, considering the fact that this year has been going nothing but tremendously for her.

This season has been remarkable for the 17-year-old Chinese standout, starting her season back in March at the Chengdu Invitational. Yan stunned the athletics world by smashing her own U20 Javelin record with a throw of 64.83 meters, cementing her status as a winner. Her consistency dwindled around May, as at the Shanghai Diamonds league, Yan threw a 60.54 m, securing a 5th place.

However, recovering from the setback, her dominance again peaked at the Chinese Athletics Championships in Quzhou on August 3rd when she broke her previous record yet again, throwing the Javelin to a distance of 65.89 meters. She injured her right ankle mid-competition but refused to back down, delivering a record-breaking throw on her fifth attempt. Remarkably, just 14 days later, she competed at the Youth Athletics Games in Shenyang. Moving cautiously, she clinched the individual javelin gold in only two rounds.

TOO YOUNG TO COMPETE AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

17-year-old Ziyi Yan launches the javelin to 64.46m to win the Continental Tour Gold event in Beijing!!!

“Under 18 Athletes – Athletes aged 16 or 17 years on 31 December 2025 (born in 2008 or 2009), may compete in any event… pic.twitter.com/hZBtc1KmJU

— Owen (@_OwenM_) September 7, 2025

Refusing to back down, she competed at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Beijing on September 7, seizing the top spot in the women’s javelin with a throw of 64.46 meters. Despite battling injuries, she continues to dominate the U20 javelin scene, and it’s only a matter of time before she challenges the senior ranks. Well, what are her coach’s thoughts on the exclusion? Let’s have a look at it.

“Regrets,” said Yan Ziyi’s coach on her exclusion from the World Championships

Yan Ziyi’s records speak for themselves, clearly proving she’s more than ready to challenge adult competitors. Last year, however, she was ruled out of the Paris Olympics, as the regulations mandated that athletes be at least 18 to compete in senior-level throwing events. Born in 2008, Yan was 16 years old at the time of the Games. When the team got to know about the age limit, there was nothing but regret from them, but what’s more regretful is the fact that she won’t be able to compete at the World Championship this year as well.

While speaking with the media, her coach, Lu Xiurong, revealed that they are being patient for now, but they do have their regrets, “We do have regrets, if she were involved in the Paris Games last year, it would be hard to predict the champion. But Yan is clear with the regulations, and she didn’t think too much. On the other hand, we all know that the Olympic Games is at the highest level, let a young girl participate at this kind of stage may be a little premature. So we should keep training, step by step, to wait for our real chance.”

Step by step, they are making sure to decimate everyone who comes in their way, and with her remarkable 2025 season, it is certain that in a few years, she will be ready to take on anyone. Who knows, she might even clinch gold at the LA 2028 Olympics.

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