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Zhuang Xiaoyan was born in Shenyang, the capital city of Northeast China's Liaoning Province on May 4, 1969.

She started to practice shot, discus and javelin when she was 14 years old, but soon turned to judo. In 1984, she entered the Liaoning provincial team and became a member of the national team two years later.

In 1986, Zhuang finished 2^ndin the National Judo Championships. The following year, she was gold medallist of women's open class in the 6^thNational Games. In 1988, she claimed the women's open class title in the 6^thInternational Judo Championships held in Japan.

In 1990, she consolidated her position in women's judo after collecting the women's open class gold in the 11^thAsian Games held in Beijing and the women's open class title in the 7^thInternational Judo Championships held in Japan.

One year later, she finished 1^stin women's open class in the 8^thWorld Women's Judo Championships, 1^stin both women's 72kg class and open class in the International Judo Championships held in Japan.

In the 1992 Olympics, Zhuang claimed the women's over 72kg category gold, becoming the 1^stplayer in the world to win a judo gold in the Olympics. Her skill and courage gained her the name of Queen of the Open Class.

In 1999, Zhuang was voted into the Fifty Best Athletes in the New China.