Yiwu-native Zhou Yangxia and her jewelry designs. [Photo/Tide News]

The story of Zhou Yangxia is the stuff of legends.

The former long jump phenom from Yiwu, Zhejiang province, once soared to athletic glory, only to reinvent herself as one of the most exciting names in China's jewelry design today.

Combining traditional Chinese craftsmanship with a cutting-edge modern aesthetic, Zhou has crafted a career that's as dazzling as her creations.

At 16, Zhou burst onto the international scene, clinching gold at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics. She followed that up with another big win at the 2001 Asian Junior Athletics Championships, solidifying her place as a rising star in track and field.

But just as her Olympic dreams were within reach, fate intervened. A ruptured sciatic tendon forced her into early retirement at the age of 19, leaving her future in limbo.

What could have been the end of Zhou's story turned out to be just the beginning. After a period of soul-searching, she rediscovered her passion for art and design — a spark that propelled her into the world of jewelry. And just like in her track and field days, Zhou didn't hold back.

Her jewelry line quickly turned heads, blending intricate traditional techniques with bold, contemporary flair. Soon after, her work was exhibited at Paris Haute Couture Week and the National Museum of China.

However, the road was not without hurdles. Zhou faced stiff competition from established brands, supply chain setbacks, and even knockoffs of her designs. True to her athletic roots, she tackled these challenges head-on, fighting legal battles and doubling down on creating unique, high-quality pieces.

In 2019, Zhou's dedication to preserving and innovating Chinese jewelry-making traditions earned her the title of national inheritor of intangible cultural heritage. Her brand, Guojin — "national gold" — is a tribute to her mission of bringing Chinese craftsmanship to a global audience.

From raising the Chinese flag on the track to dazzling the world with her jewelry, Zhou's path may have taken an unexpected detour, but she has proven that sometimes the best victories come after the final whistle.