Chongqing - A video of two young girls powering through an obstacle course with explosive agility has gone viral in China, drawing millions of views and comments like "full-level super kids" and "like Nezha and his counterpart." The footage, posted by outdoor influencer "BOSS Ocean," shows the pair scaling steps, gripping rings, and weaving through narrow walls with remarkable speed and precision.

Qin Shiying (center) on the podium. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

The girls are Cui Xinlan, 9, and Qin Shiying, who turns 9 later this month. Both train at the Maoxiaoke Comprehensive Fitness Center in Chongqing and recently competed in the third qualifying round for the 2026 UIPM Modern Pentathlon Obstacle Racing World Championships, held in Shijiazhuang on August 8.

In training, they have clocked 51 and 52 seconds, respectively, in the 100-meter obstacle race, setting national records for athletes under 13.

Cui Xinlan. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

"They are naturally gifted and have been with me since they were 4," said Jiang Sihan, head of Maoxiaoke Comprehensive Fitness Center. "They are teammates and rivals." He noted that while the girls have trained with him for over four years, they only specialized in obstacle racing two years ago. "Qin is slightly faster, and she will be the youngest competitor at the Worlds."

Obstacle racing remains relatively new to many. In 2023, the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) replaced equestrian with obstacle racing as one of the modern pentathlon's five disciplines, with the change set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. China has secured hosting rights for four consecutive world championships from 2025 to 2028. This year's edition, scheduled for September 2-6 at Universal CityWalk Beijing, will also feature junior categories for the first time.

Qin Shiying in a daily training session. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

The two girls will compete in the U11 division (ages 9-10). They have already posted strong results in both the 100m and 3,000m events in earlier qualifiers. On August 14, they traveled to Beijing for the next stage of competition.

Jiang explained that the obstacle course changes every year, with organizers selecting combinations from a pool of about a dozen obstacles. This year's 100m course includes 12 barriers - ranging from stair climbs and rings to balance beams and a final wall - leaving little room for steady running and demanding high anaerobic power and adaptability.

Cui Xinlan in a daily training session. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

"Fewer than 1,000 adults in China can complete all the obstacles," Jiang said. His facility, which focuses on youth development and has training sites in Jiulongpo, Banan, and Liangjiang New Area, currently enrolls about 300 students, almost all of them children.

The two girls train daily after school and on weekends, rain or shine. At the upcoming World Championships, they will compete against peers from other nations, representing China.

"For a sport newly added to the Olympics, these kids are among the earliest to receive systematic training," Jiang added. "In the youth category, China's progress is keeping pace with the rest of the world."