Zheng Fengrong

Joining the Chinese national team in 1953, Zheng broke the high jump world record with a jump of 1.77 m in Beijing on 17 November 1957. This jump makes her the first Chinese woman to hold a sports world record. Her unique scissor jump was later dubbed the “Eastern Jump”.

Since the People’s Republic of China did not compete in the Summer Olympics between 1952 and 1984, Zheng could not participate in the 1956 competition, won by Mildred McDaniel, whose world record Zheng bettered by 1 cm.

Zheng was one of eight athletes who carried the Olympic flag in the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.