9th World Wushu Championships

The 2007 9th World Wushu Championships was an amazing event to be a part of. With over 89 countries participating, you saw people from literally every inhabitable part of the world. Though the level of performace varied from country to country, everyone did their best, and they all made a great showing under the banner of flags from each country.

Mainland China dominated the competition, of course, but along with Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam, who were all very strong players. I was really impressed with the US team players, some of whom were on their first trip out of the US to any other country. They all did their best, and scored very well. There were just so many competitors you couldn't make the top six even with a near perfect performance. I thin ki was a great growing experience for the team to see the levels wushu can be taken to, and also a confidence boost to know they played well on a world stage. The event was hosted in one of the new buildings erected for the 2008 Olympics, so it was literally brand-new- the water wasn't even on in the bathrooms the first night we were there for the opening ceremony.

Coaches came from all over to pay respect to Coach Hao, knowing her past and present place in wushu. No onw has forgotten her unmatched records of winning golds in single competitions, and taking All-Around Champion so many times. A number of the coaches reminded me they still consider her to be the best there ever was, and that no one will ever match her shuang dao (double broadsword) or eagle claw. Coach Hao was a real asset to the young wushu players for the US as well. As the only coach of the US team to be from Beijing, she new the area much better, as well as the coaches of the other teams and layout of the city. Shen spent a lot of time making sure the players' weapons were ready for taolu, and helped the prep and procure new ones when they were either forgotten or broken, which happened a couple times. She even got off the bus in the freezing cold to get a new staff for one of the team members, and then walked over a quarter mile in gusting wind to bring it in to the facility. Security was so tight that I think they probably wouldn't have let anyone but her in with a staff without an official escort.

Being a part of the US delegation was great. Some of the players I had known previously, and it was wonderful to spend time with them. It was also an honor to meet people I'd watched in competition, but never had the chance to talk to personally. They all showed very well for the US, and give great hope for the future of wushu in our country.

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