■ Chongqing Evening News reporter Louis
Eating dry milk powder was because no one mixed it with water for him. From over a year old until he entered kindergarten at age four, he would consume about 1 jin (half a kilogram) of dry milk powder every two to three days and still feel hungry, so he would look for snacks like potato chips, cookies, candies, dried tofu, chicken claws... eating whatever was available. Occasionally, when his parents came home early, they could give him a proper dinner - fried rice with eggs, which was already a super treat for him. After eating his fill, he would run around happily.
At just over a year old, little Xu Wei wobbled along while shopping with his mother, carrying a 5-kilogram bag of salt and walking nearly 1 kilometer by himself.
On the afternoon of the 9th, at the Third Sports School in Yongchuan District, Chongqing.
Before turning six, Xu Wei set a personal record by carrying a man weighing over 100 kilograms on his back. It was also around that time that his circle of friends shrank to only children aged twelve or thirteen. Children his own age didn't want to play with him because playing with the strong Xu Wei was too disadvantageous; if he put forth even a little effort, others would fall flat on their backs...
The coach called Xu Wei "Fire Kid" because he wasn't afraid of the cold. Last winter, during the coldest days, Xu Wei insisted on wearing only a thin T-shirt and a light jacket. He was very active, and moving around made him easily warm.
Intern Xue Yaxiao
Vice Principal Jiang Shaomin of the Third Sports School summarized that quite a few weightlifters have genetic factors contributing to their strength. Either both or one of their parents is strength-oriented, or it's a result of inheritance from older generations, where their incredible strength comes from their parents' elders.
Where does this extraordinary strength come from?
Jiang Shaomin said another reason is due to environmental influences. Xu Wei grew up on a hillside, climbing slopes and steps from a young age, which constantly exercised his muscles, giving him an obvious advantage in strength. A few years ago in Qianjiang District, there was also a little weightlifting prodigy who could carry a 50-kilogram load at the age of five. This child had no toys, so he played with cart tires. Now, at the age of eleven, he is training in weightlifting.
With such great strength, naturally his fame spread far and wide, and the sports school came knocking.
Bending over, tightening his stomach, squatting down, standing up - without even hearing the expected "hey" sound, the big brother was already sitting firmly on Xu Wei's back - it should be emphasized that the big brother was sitting, not lying down, all his weight concentrated on his buttocks, pressing entirely on Xu Wei, holding for almost 20 seconds. Xu Wei's face remained rosy, and he didn't even take a deep breath.
Dry milk powder and snacks
Carrying a 100-kilogram man
"Carry someone." Xu Wei raised his apple-red little face, eager to try.
During a break, Xu Wei rushed out of the training room. "I've told you many times, go slower, slower, don't bump into anyone," Coach Xu Ge warned behind him. The athlete Xu Ge had been bumped by this little guy before and couldn't withstand it, "He's as strong as a bull."
A senior student in the 73-kilogram category wanted Xu Wei to carry him, but Xu Wei refused, saying the other person was too short, making it hard to maintain balance. It wasn't until the senior student in the 82-kilogram category approached that Xu Wei's bright eyes lit up like a pea pod.
"His waist, abdomen, and lower limb strength is very strong. Look at how solid his chest is, and how muscular his legs are. His cardiorespiratory function is also good, look at his red cheeks, no need to say more." Coach Xu Ge patted his bottom.
At the age of nine, under the protection of his coach, Xu Wei challenged a 120-kilogram barbell.
Xu Wei imitated the senior students flexing his muscles, but the coach said since he was too young, he wouldn't yet develop large muscle masses.
This action of lifting a 15-kilogram dumbbell, Xu Wei could perform several sets well. Photo by Chongqing Evening News reporter Zhang Zhi.
Xu Wei easily carried the senior student in the 82-kilogram category.
On the afternoon of the 9th at 5 o'clock, at the Third Sports School.
Next came sit-ups, not the usual kind, but ones where you hold a 5-kilogram weight behind your neck. Xu Wei's highest record was 20.
Superhuman strength comes from nature and nurture
This kid didn't eat regular meals as a child, growing up eating dry milk powder and snacks.
Xu Wei and his father really wanted to know exactly how heavy a person he could carry. Since setting the record of carrying over 100 kilograms at less than six years old, these many years later, it hasn't been broken - where would so many fat people conveniently show up for him to practice? So, he is now lonely.
Vice Principal Jiang Shaomin was discussing with Coach Xu Ge, planning to send Xu Wei, who joined the school last year, to the Sports Science Institute next week for testing, to see the development of the little guy and determine the next step in the training plan. At this moment, Xu Wei walked into the office, extending his chubby little hand to distribute candy, everyone getting a share. Seeing the coach glaring, Xu Wei quickly defended himself: "The teacher invited me to eat it." Then he pulled out a cookie from his pocket, "And gave me this."
Xu Wei's family lives in Hongguang Village, Hankou Town, Kaixian County.
At less than six years old
Next was the weighted squat lift with the barbell, increasing progressively: 50 kilograms, 80 kilograms, 100 kilograms, 120 kilograms. Xu Wei was delighted and successfully lifted each one. Due to his young age, and to avoid premature development leading to fatigue, Xu Wei mainly undergoes basic training like running, deep squats, frog jumps, etc., rarely doing weight-bearing exercises.
"At that time, he was alone at home from morning till night." Xu Dad said, they ran a gardening company with a nursery of four or five hundred mu, and the couple was always busy with no time to take care of the child, leaving Xu Wei to "take care" of himself.
At first, Xu Wei stayed in the dormitory, but he kept kicking off his covers. Combined with the large amount of snacks he consumed attracting a gathering of rats in the dormitory, there was no choice, so the coach took him home to live together, eating, living, and studying together. On one side, they watched his mouth, controlling food intake, sweets, and fried foods, and on the other side, taught him some basic life skills.
The Xu family's monthly snack expenditure remained between 2000-3000 yuan. "Since Xu Wei could eat things, snacks at home never expired again," Xu Dad said. A large bag of "Shang Hao Jia" potato chips, he could eat 12 bags at once. Going to KFC, they would spend at least a hundred yuan, and this was still from a few years ago. In the first grade, the school had business dealings with Xu Dad's gardening company. "This kid eats as much as three people, with a few more like him, our cafeteria would have to close," the teacher joked.
Xu Wei's leg strength reached 60 kilograms at the age of eight. Xu Ge once took Xu Wei to Cha Mountain Bamboo Sea for training, walking for six hours, and Xu Wei showed no signs of discomfort at all.
This little guy, nine years and two months old, 1.35 meters tall, and weighing 40 kilograms, is currently the youngest known strongman in Chongqing. At less than six years old, he could carry adults weighing over 100 kilograms.
"How do you prove you're strong?"
"I'm embarrassed to say, I'm really embarrassed." On the phone, Xu Dad had a guilty tone.
Vice Principal Jiang Shaomin of the Third Sports School said that currently, Xu Wei is still too young, and to protect his growth, it's inappropriate to undergo intense training. Only through regular training like running, frog jumps, stretching, etc., can his physical foundation be built up. As he grows older and according to his development, the training plan will be adjusted appropriately.
Olympic weightlifting champion is his idol
Xu Wei's idol is Olympic weightlifting champion Long Qingquan. This "next station champion" gets along well with everyone he meets, his sweet talk like honey. He is also good at haggling, reducing the price of a phone originally priced at over 1000 yuan by over 100 yuan with just a few clever words and big eyes. Xu Dad said, previously when others came to buy saplings from their nursery, Xu Wei would support the adults, preventing others from lowering the price.
Take Xu Wei for example, his father is 1.68 meters tall and weighs 60 kilograms, his mother is 1.67 meters tall and weighs nearly 80 kilograms, and his strength has inherited from his mother. "His mother walks very energetically, bustling about, looking like this robust type." Xu Dad also credited his side, saying Xu Wei's grandfather, a centenarian who lived to be 99 years old, was also physically powerful in his youth, "carrying hundreds of catties was no problem."
In May of last year, Xu Wei moved from his hometown in Kaixian to the Third Sports School for amateur training. Normally, children here start training after finishing primary school, but given Xu Wei's extraordinary strength, the school made an exception and accepted him.
Just over five years old, before bedtime one evening, he suddenly decided to carry his mother on his back, and to everyone's surprise, he easily carried her, who weighed nearly 80 kilograms.
However, being calm and mature outside doesn't mean he is the same way at home. Whenever his parents visit him in Yongchuan, he insists on sleeping between them, enjoying the feeling of stars and moons revolving around the sun.
"I have issued a ban: he is not allowed to go out alone with my friends." Xu Dad often visits a car wash where a cashier likes Xu Wei, taking him to watch movies, and during one movie, he ate snacks worth 150 yuan.
Treated as food