View source for Xing Huina

{{short description|Chinese long-distance runner}}
{{family name hatnote|Xing|lang=Chinese}}
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{{MedalSport | Women's [[Athletics (sport)|Athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{CHN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}
'''Xing Huina''' ({{zh|c=邢慧娜|p=Xíng Huìnà}}; born February 25, 1984, in [[Hanting District|Hanting]], [[Weifang]], [[Shandong]]) is a former Chinese [[track and field]] [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]]. She is widely recognised as the most successful Asian female runner of all time, after winning the Athens olympic gold medal in 2004. In a relatively short elite career that effectively ended before the age of 25, her most significant achievement was to win a shock gold [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres| in the 2004 Olympic Games in the women's 10,000 m]] at the age of just 20. Narrowly missing the podium twice in the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 World Championships]] in the following year, the lifetime ban for her coach [[Wang Dexian]] for doping his athletes in 2006,<ref>[https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2007-12/27/content_6352448.htm Struggling Olympic champ tries to get back on track] from ChinaDaily.</ref> and recurrent injuries, derailed her following years. A move to marathon running failed to revitalise her career, and Xing effectively retired in 2009.

==Early life==
Xing was born to family of farmers in [[Hanting District|Hanting]], [[Weifang]], [[Shandong]].  Standing 1.66 m tall and weighing 50&nbsp;kg (110&nbsp;lb), she began training at Weifang City Sport School, coached by Chi Yuzhai. She joined the Shandong Sport Technology Institute in 1999, coached by Yin Yanqin.

==Career==
She was selected into national team in 2002 after running 4:10.43 in 1500 m and 14:56.15 in 5000 m in 2001 Chinese National Games. In national team, she was coached by Wang Dexian. In 2002, she won bronze medal in 10,000 m in Busan Asian Games with 31:42.36. She was the first Asian athlete to be crowned the Olympic champion in this competition.

In 2003, she came in 7th and broke the [[World junior records in athletics|World Junior Record]] (30:31.55) in the memorable race of 10,000m at [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]] [[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]. The record was broken by [[Linet Masai]] of Kenya at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Xing won the gold medal in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]] race in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Olympics|track and field competition]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athens, Greece]] with 30:24.36. She overtook Ethiopian [[Ejagayehu Dibaba]] in the final straight to break the monopoly of Ethiopians, becoming the first Asian to ever have won an Olympic gold medal in women's 10,000 metres.

In the 2005 World Championships in [[2005 World Championships in Athletics|Helsinki]], she placed 5th in women's 5000 m (14:43.64) and 4th in women's 10,000 m (30:27.18). Both races were won by Ethiopian runners.

She decided not to compete at the [[2009 National Games of China]] in 2009 due to a persistent leg injury. The combination of the injury and her long period away from competition raised speculation that her professional career was finished at the age of 26.<ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90779/90867/6790055.html Former Olympic champion Xing Huina withdraws from National Games]. [[Xinhua]] (2009-10-21). Retrieved on 2010-08-21.</ref>

==Personal bests==
*1500 m: 4:09.01 (2003)
*5000 m: 14:43.64 (2005)
*10,000 m: 30:24.36 (2004)

Her unofficial 1500 m personal best is 4:03.00, which was set at the [[2005 National Games of China]]. However, the result was nullified because her opponent, Liu Qing filed a complaint of being deliberately blocked by Xing when Liu tried overtaking Xing.<ref>Jalava, Mirko (2005-10-19). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=32367.html Xing Huina disqualified in the 1500m, teenager claims men's 20km Walk - Chinese National Games Day 3 report]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2010-08-17.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{World Athletics}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 10000 m Women}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Xing, Huina}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Chinese women long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for China]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for China]]
[[Category:People from Weifang]]
[[Category:Runners from Shandong]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for China]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Chinese Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)]]