HHH High School East 9th Grader Justin Shen Wins Silver Medal

Justin Shen, a 9th grader from Half Hollow Hills High School East, recently represented the United States in the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships, where he earned a silver medal.

“Wushu” is a term for Chinese martial arts, encompassing many different forms. Modern competitive wushu includes both barehand and weapon routines that emphasize power, speed, flexibility, balance, and accuracy of movement. The World Junior Wushu Championships, held every two years, is a world-class event organized by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) for young wushu athletes, and it is the highest-level wushu competition for youth. This year, the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships took place in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, attracting 498 athletes from 50 countries and regions.

Justin Shen began training in wushu at the age of 7. In May 2024, he participated in the United States Junior Wushu Team Trials in Santa Clara, California, where he was selected for the U.S. Junior National Wushu Team as the number one ranked wushu athlete in his age group. This accomplishment earned him the opportunity to compete in the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships.

At the championships, Justin competed in the Group B Boys category and won a silver medal in jianshu (straight sword). His silver-medal achievement ended a 12-year medal drought for the U.S. Junior National Wushu Team in this event.

With wushu now becoming an official event at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, Justin has set his sights on his ultimate goal: competing in the Olympic Games. He stated that he will continue to train hard and pursue his Olympic dream.