A leap into the unknown

Runway return

Resetting mentally, Wang rebuilt patiently — and the payoff came in 2022.

At the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, he claimed gold with his final attempt of 8.36m, becoming the first Chinese man to win a world title in a field event.

After winning, Wang ran to the sidelines with tears in his eyes and embraced Huntington.

"My relationship with him is more like father and son. When I was younger, I would argue with him," Wang said. "Before Tokyo, I sometimes lost my temper. After Tokyo, whatever he said, I listened… I just followed his lead."

Hayward Field in Eugene is a lucky place for him — in 2014, he won the World Junior Championships there. It is also Huntington's home ground — the stadium belongs to the University of Oregon, his alma mater.

Right after the competition, Wang rewatched his final jump, analyzing its flaws with Huntington — the run-up and takeoff connection were solid and reflected their training goals, but his aerial technique and landing still had room to improve.

"This gold medal gives confidence to the future of long jump and young athletes," Wang said at the time.

"Kids in the future will face training and competition with a more positive and optimistic mindset."

Becoming world champion did not stop him.

In 2023, he defended his Asian Games title in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, despite an ankle injury that sent him back to Beijing for treatment shortly before the competition. He returned to the runway to secure gold for the Chinese team.

At the Paris Olympics in 2024, then considered a veteran in his third Olympics appearance, Wang finished eighth — disappointed but determined to move forward.

"It's a pity I didn't perform well and couldn't show my true level. Step by step — there will be more chances," he said.

A brief interruption followed last November, when an out-of-competition test returned a positive result, but the Athletics Integrity Unit later confirmed it was caused by passive inhalation.

The China Anti-Doping Agency announced Nov 24 that Wang bore no fault or negligence, stating he inadvertently inhaled terbutaline particles in the air while accompanying a family member who was receiving nebulizer treatment.

An injury early this year kept him off the field for nearly the entire season, and he missed the chance to defend his National Games title.

Still, the years have reshaped him. The athlete who once pushed impatiently toward results now speaks of renewal, understanding and patience.

The long jump, after all, is a discipline defined by paradox: explosive force built on precision and risk built on restraint. Its finest performances often belong to those who can wait for the right moment to leap.

In 2027, the World Championships will return to Beijing's Bird's Nest — the stadium where Wang won his first worlds medal in 2015. He hopes to stand there again, this time not as a rising star or returning champion, but as an athlete still pursuing distance, still listening to his body and still believing there is further to go.