Liu Xuan was born in Changsha, the capital city of Central China's Hunan Province on March 12, 1979. Starting to practice gymnastics at the age of five, Liu Xun entered the Hunan provincial team in 1987 and became a member of the national team five years later, and in that year she claimed the women's uneven bars title in the National Gymnastics Championships.
In 1993, she led the Hunan provincial team to women's team championship in the National Games. The following year, she was gold medallist in women's team and silver medallist in women's uneven bars in the 12th Asian Games.
In 1995, she swept the titles of women's balance beam, free exercise and all-around gymnastics in the China Cup World Gymnastics Championships. Two years later, she finished first in women's all-around gymnastics and unbalance beam in the East Asian Games, and ranked third in unbalance beam in the World Cup held in Switzerland.
In 1998, the 1.54-meter girl won championships in women's balance beam in the World Cup Finals held in Japan, in women's all-around gymnastics in the National Gymnastics Championships, and in women's all-around gymnastics and balance beam in the Asian Games.
In 1999, Liu was champion of women's balance beam in the World Gymnastics Championships. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she claimed the women's balance beam gold for China, becoming the first Chinese woman to win such a title. She also was bronze medallist of women's all-around gymnastics in the event.
Liu has won the hearts of Chinese and international fans with her youthfulness and bright smile. Being praised by media in Hong Kong as "Beauty Xuan," she has become one of the most beloved sports stars in Hong Kong. She is also on good terms with the press, always smiling and speaking frankly when answering questions.
In December 2000, she joined a delegation of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee to Lausanne, Switzerland to present Beijing's case of staging the Olympics and contributed a lot to Beijing's successful bid.
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