14-year-old Guo Meilin has been naturalized as a Chinese citizen. /Weibo Account of Guo Meilin
14-year-old Guo Meilin has been naturalized as a Chinese citizen. /Weibo Account of Guo Meilin
A 14-year-old Ukrainian artistic gymnast has been naturalized as a Chinese citizen.
"Fight! I love China!" posted Guo Meiling on her Weibo account on Sunday, along with several photos of her receiving a Chinese passport, ID card and hukou (household registration) and a short video explaining the process.
Guo is China's first naturalized gymnast.
The daughter of a Chinese father from central China's Henan Province and a Ukrainian mother, Guo was born on March 27, 2007, in Ukraine. Though raised in Ukraine, Guo got acquainted with Chinese traditional culture through her father. She said she loves Chinese culture.
Guo attended a professional gymnastic club at a young age, like many Ukrainian girls. The country has been home to some of the top-class artistic gymnasts in the world. For example, Anna Bessonova, the winner of multiple world championships and two Olympic All-around bronze medals.
14-year-old Guo Meilin has been naturalized as a Chinese citizen. /Weibo account of Guo Meilin
14-year-old Guo Meilin has been naturalized as a Chinese citizen. /Weibo account of Guo Meilin
Guo is nearly 1.7 meters tall but possesses incredible pliability. A few years ago, she earned the national title at a junior gymnastic contest in Ukraine.
Guo has been training in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, for months. She said she will stay there until the National Games in September. Though Guo has not reached the age (16) to represent China on an international stage, she's expected to represent Shaanxi in the National Games in the second half of this year.
Many foreign athletes with Chinese roots have been naturalized by the country in recent years. For example, San Francisco-born Gu Ailing (Eileen Gu) has already won a series of freestyle skiing world championships for China.