Doctor finds prescription for top performance

Wu Tiangen, a 31-year-old weight-loss expert from Wuhan, Hubei province, attracted nationwide recently by winning four championships and two runner-up titles at a national fitness and bodybuilding competition in Jiangmen, Guangdong province.

Wu's achievement as an amateur competitor is remarkable because he prepared for the competition in a mere 42 days — utilizing his limited spare time to work out during early mornings and late evenings while juggling his rigorous duties as a busy surgeon. Impressively, he shed 24 kilograms, reducing his BMI from 29.4 to below 15 — meeting the competition's requirement.

The DWOWS Championship, a prestigious flagship national bodybuilding event hosted by a sports development company in Guangdong from Jan 11 to 12, drew 470 contestants aged 17 to 46, primarily fitness industry professionals and sports experts, according to the organizing committee.

However, Wu stood out with a striking debut in the fierce competition, showcasing muscles in full form, defined contours, sculpted layers as well as smooth lines.

"Competitive sports are all about pushing your limits," Wu said.

To prepare for the competition, Wu would rise at 6 am each day, engage in one hour of aerobic exercise at the gym, and then head to work. In the evenings after work, he would undergo high-intensity strength training under the guidance of a coach, focusing on sculpting specific muscle groups.

"Not only did he impart positive energy, he also fostered an inspiring image for our entire team and the gym community," said Shi Fan, Wu's fitness and bodybuilding coach.

Shi, a 30-year-old professor at the school of physical education at Hubei University, also made history by securing the overall championship at the 2024 IFBB World Fit Model Championships held in Lithuania in October. She became the first fitness model from China to claim the women's category title.

Shi highlighted Wu's impressive stage presence characterized by a cool and seamless performance, sharply contrasting with his friendly and warm offstage persona.

"Given the changing aesthetic standards and the prevalence of online livestreaming, bodybuilding and fitness have shifted toward widespread popularity and mainstream acceptance," she said.

But Wu does not recommend his example as a daily weight loss method for the public. Wu, born in Qianjiang, Hubei, has been a sports enthusiast since childhood. He began practicing taekwondo in kindergarten and has since become a skilled martial artist, holding a third-degree black belt in the World Taekwondo Federation. Additionally, he has a strong interest in mixed martial arts. Wu later joined his hospital's basketball team and started to engage in fitness activities in 2011.