In 1990, they were invited to attend a camp in Beijing to test for admission to the Chinese national training center.

Showing determination that would serve her well in her competitive career, she talked coaches into allowing her to remain in Beijing with her sister.

The next year at the Asian Games, however, she nearly swept the competition with gold medals in the team, balance beam, uneven bars, and vault and a bronze in the all-around.

Although she placed out of the medals on floor exercise, her routine, which was choreographed to Leroy Anderson's "Typewriter Song", was a hit with the audience.

At the 1995 World Championships in Sabae, she showed an increased level of difficulty on all events, including a double-twisting Yurchenko vault, a double layout on floor exercise and beam routine highlighted by a dynamic two-foot layout and blind double stag leaps.

However, struggling with her fitness and increased demands for difficulty with a new Code of Points, she quietly retired from gymnastics at the end of 1997.

She pursued her education at Renmin University of China in Beijing and subsequently began a career as a sports journalist and commentator.

In fact, the only women gymnasts who have performed the "Mo Salto" at international competitions are all from China, including Meng Fei and Bi Wenjing.

Another Chinese athlete, the relatively unknown Zhou Duan, performed the even harder Gaylord II (front flip with half twist over the high bar) at the 1997 East Asian Games.