Liu Dezhu

Dezhu first represented China at the 2017 Asian Indoor Games, advancing to the semifinals but not qualifying for the final.^[1] After several podium finishes, he would win his first Chinese Athletics Championships title in 2021 in the 1500 metres.^[1] At the 2021 National Games of China, Dezhu won bronze medals in the 800 m and 1500 m.^[1]

In 2023, Dezhu won a bronze medal in the 1500 m and finished 4th in the 800 m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships. He also finshed 7th in the World University Games 1500 m that year, as well as finishing 5th and 6th in that year's Asian Games 800 m and 1500 m respectively.^[1]

In March 2024, Dezhu set a short track (indoor) Chinese national record in the 800 m, running 1:46.63 at the Chinese Indoor GP Series III in Jinan.^[2]

Dezhu was born to a poor rural family in Baise, Guangxi, China.^[2] He trained as much as 15–20 kilometres (9.3–12.4 mi) per day and in 2016 he was selected for the Guangxi regional athletics team. One year later, he was named to the national team and shortly after began training in Kenya. He studies at Central China Normal University.^[2]

Personal best progression

800m progression

#	Mark	Pl.	Competition	Venue	Date	Ref.
1	1:57.31	(Heat 5-17)	Chinese U18 Championships	Nanchang, China	18 Apr 2017	[4]
2	1:57.25		Chinese U18 Championships	Nanchang, China	19 Apr 2017	[5]
3	1:55.04	(Heat 1)	Asian Indoor Games	Ashgabat, Turkmenistan	17 Sep 2017	[6]
4	1:53.76	4th (Semifinal 1)	Asian Indoor Games	Ashgabat, Turkmenistan	18 Sep 2017	[7]
5	1:53.35	4th (Heat 1)	Chinese Indoor Grand Prix Final	Beijing, China	22 Mar 2018	[8]
6	1:52.76		Chinese Indoor Grand Prix Final	Beijing, China	23 Mar 2018	[9]
7	1:51.62	(Heat 10)	Chinese Grand Prix, Youth Olympic Games Trials	Zhuzhou, China	16 Apr 2018	[10]
8	1:51.22A	(Heat 1)	Chinese Grand Prix Final	Guiyang, China	15 Jun 2018	[11]
9	1:50.19	(Heat 1)	Chinese Athletics Championships	Taiyuan, China	15 Sep 2018	[12]
10	1:49.83		Chinese Grand Prix	Zhaoqing, China	8 Apr 2019	[13]
11	1:49.55	(Heat 1)	Chinese Indoor GP	Jinan, China	16 Mar 2021	[14]
12	1:49.32		Yangtze River Delta Elite Meeting	Shaoxing, China	8 Apr 2021	[15]
13	1:48.04		Division Invitational Tournament - East China	Taizhou, Zhejiang, China	9 May 2021	[16]
14	1:47.36		Portland Distance Carnival	Portland, OR	12 May 2023	[17]
15	1:46.77	4th	Asian Athletics Championships	Bangkok, Thailand	15 Jul 2023	[18]
16	1:46.63	(Heat 4)	Chinese Indoor GP Series III	Jinan, China	11 Mar 2024	[19]

• Liu Dezhu at World Athletics