At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she became the first Chinese athlete to win the gold medal in fencing.

[4] She started fencing at the age of 17 and in no time joined the national team in the same year.

Throughout her fencing career, she was noted for her toughness, once even continuing a match after being stabbed in the arm by a broken foil.

She actively trained at the EFC and fenced in numerous competitions in hopes of gaining a berth on the 2008 Canadian Olympic team, which she succeeded in accomplishing.

[10] In 2018, Luan placed first at the World Veteran Championships 60+ age group held in Livorno, Italy.