‘Nerdy hurdler’ tipped for Olympic success at LA 2028 after semi-final exit in Paris
- Xu Zhuoyi, who won over fans at home with his charming look, dashed to the finish line, clocking 13.48 seconds
Chinese fans are rallying behind their new track sensation Xu Zhuoyi despite him exiting in the 110 metres hurdles semi-final, urging him to set his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Xu, who won over fans at home with his charmingly “nerdy” look, dashed to the finish line with his spectacles firmly in place, clocking 13.48 seconds in Thursday’s semi-final.
Though his Olympic journey ended sooner than hoped, Xu’s unique charm and determination have ignited a passionate following. The topic “Nerdy Xu Zhuoyi” garnered over 7.4 million views on Chinese social media Douyin.
“You have performed so well for your Olympic debut. We all look forward to a better you at the Games four years later. I will forever support you,” one user’s comment on viewwe read, which received over 1,400 likes.
“Don’t lose heart, Xu. Let’s meet at the 2028 Los Angeles Games!” another posted.
One fan said it was Xu that made the hurdle race interesting again for a Chinese audience.
