New Zealand trail star Nancy Jiang rises to success despite parents’ belief that ‘Chinese people don’t run’
- The Chinese-born Kiwi’s determination is shaped by her upbringing, when her parents pushed for academics over sport
- Only a few years after taking up trail running she is representing New Zealand at the Trail World Championships
New Zealand Trail World Championships runner Nancy Jiang has come a long way in the sport considering her parents told her “Chinese people don’t run” when she was a child.
Born in China, she emigrated to New Zealand aged five and has led an active life since, but it was not until she visited Tignes in the French Alps four years ago that she turned to mountain running. Quickly falling in love with the sport, she signed up for the 56km OCC at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB).
“I'd heard about it. But I definitely didn't realise how big it was,” she said of the festival atmosphere during the UTMB week.
Jiang, 27, put her all into training and came fifth. She said she wanted to make sure she “did a good job”.
Listen: The Adventure Trail podcast with Nancy Jiang
“For a race like the OCC, you don't just show up and run it,” she said on The Adventure Trail podcast. “How I overcome all the low points in the race, and how hard I push myself, the main thing is also enjoyment.”