Zhan Xugang was recruited for the Kaihua County Sports School weightlifting program at ten years of age.

Due to his progress Zhan was selected for the Zhejiang provincial team in 1987, and broke a national junior record the same year.

In 1996, at the Atlanta Olympic Games, Zhan Xugang won the gold medal and broke 3 World Records.

Going forward Zhan Xugang mainly engaged in sports management in Zhejiang Province as the deputy commander in charge of weightlifting, judo and taekwondo.

In the beginning of 2012, Zhan was promoted to vice president of Zhejiang sports of the Career Technical College and became the director of seven departments.