Breaking records should earn a ticket to the biggest stage, right? Not this time. A 16-year-old phenom just shattered a world junior record with a throw of 64.83m, proving they belong among the best, but instead of celebrating a historic moment, fans are fuming over a technicality that’s keeping them out of the World Championships. The twist? This rule only applies to throwers. And the name at the center of it all? Chinese track and field athlete Yan Zihi.
Age restrictions in sports are nothing new, but this one has left fans scratching their heads. Why, you may ask. In events like sprinting or jumping, young prodigies get their shot if they meet the performance standard. But for throwers? The rules are different. Even if they smash records, a technicality keeps them out. For one, Yan, who just made history, that rule has turned a dream into frustration. What exactly has happened?
Well, one track and field fan whose handle is “Beau Throws” took to X and posted about the technicality bias. The caption sums it all up as it reads, “Looks like Yan Zihi won’t be able to compete at this year’s World Championships in Tokyo because of her age . Pretty dumb rule. She could compete if she were a sprinter or jumper but not as a thrower… Make it make sense .”
Looks like Yan Zihi won’t be able to compete at this year’s World Championships in Tokyo because of her age
Pretty dumb rule. She could compete if she was a sprinter or jumper but not as a thrower…make it make sense pic.twitter.com/PjnZouDqcT
— Beau Throws (@beau_throws) March 28, 2025
The 16-year-old broke the world junior record at the Throws Invitational in Chengdu with a throw of 64.83m! She was competing with the senior implement and has now broken the record for the third time. But still, she had to face a setback due to technical rules. But how do these rules work?
When it comes to competing at the highest level, age restrictions are a standard part of the rulebook. But some of these regulations raise eyebrows—especially when they prevent young talent from shining despite record-breaking performances. Here’s how the eligibility rules break down:
Under-20 Athletes (Born in 2006 or 2007)
If you’re 18 or 19 by the end of 2025, you can compete in almost any event. The only exceptions? The grueling marathon and the 35km race walk both demand extreme endurance.
Under-18 Athletes (Born in 2008 or 2009)
This is where things get tricky. While 16- and 17-year-olds can participate in most disciplines, except throwing events, combined events, the 10,000m, marathon, and race walks. That means even if a young athlete breaks records in a throwing event, they’re still sidelined—an exclusion that doesn’t apply to sprinters, jumpers, or distance runners.
Athletes Younger Than 16 (Born in 2010 or Later)
If you’re not turning at least 16 on December 31, 2025, you’re completely ineligible. No exceptions. No matter how talented you are, the world stage remains out of reach.
For most disciplines, young athletes who prove themselves can step up and compete. But for throwers? The rules create a frustrating roadblock. And for one teenage phenom, fans are coming forward and are frustrated over the rules.
Breaking records but banned, track and field fans are frustrated in the case of Yan Zihi
The hype around rising young stars in track and field is usually undeniable—unless, of course, they happen to be throwers. That’s the frustration surrounding young prodigy Yan Zihi, who just shattered the junior world record for the third time. Yet, despite proving she belongs among the sport’s elite, she won’t be competing at this year’s World Championships in Tokyo. Not because she isn’t good enough. Not because she failed to qualify. However, because of a technicality that many fans believe is outdated and unjust,
“She should be talked about with the same, if not greater, hype as other junior greats right now,” one fan pointed out, further adding, “But she won’t be—because she’s a javelin thrower and not a track runner. Such a double standard.” And there’s truth to that statement. Young sprinters, jumpers, and distance runners who dominate their events are often celebrated and fast-tracked into senior-level competition.
But for throwers, an arbitrary restriction keeps them locked out—even when they’ve already outgrown their junior peers. Another fan wrote, “Such a double standard for throwers; it’s utterly ridiculous how these restrictions are in place.” Yan will be around 17 years old on December 31, 2025, and as per the rules, she is not the right fit. At the core of this rule is the idea of injury prevention and gradual development. “I think the idea here is probably injury prevention or something so they aren’t overtraining,” another fan speculated.
Worse yet, the Chinese thrower isn’t just outperforming her peers—she’s competing with the senior implement and still breaking records. “This is such a stupid decision; she’s better than all the people in her age group, but she isn’t allowed to move up?” another fan questioned, summing up the exasperation. “Dumbest rule on the books. I think that maybe the idea here is probably injury prevention or something so they aren’t overtraining, but that’s especially stupid for the women’s events since the weights of implements don’t change,” one frustrated fan poured the feelings into words.
“This has to be one of the dumbest rules I have seen in a while,” another comment reads. For many, this isn’t just about one athlete missing out. It’s about a flawed system that continues to disadvantage throwers while their track counterparts get opportunities to shine. And as Yan Zihi sits on the sidelines watching the World Championships unfold, the frustration among track and field fans only grows louder.
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