Xinyu (Yvonne) Zhang

Xinyu (Yvonne) graduated in 2025 with a Master’s degree in Sports Events Management from Shanghai University of Sport (China), specializing in the development of skateboarding following its inclusion in the Olympic Games. She has an interest in skateboarding and has more than 10 years of skating experience.

In 2025, Yvonne began her PhD research on the development of skateboarding under the supervision of Prof. dr. Inge Derom. She has been granted a CSC scholarship for her PhD research. The objective of her doctoral research is to generate rigorous scientific insights that inspire, support, and stimulate the participation of women skateboarders and contribute to the creation of more inclusive skateboarding environments. Her current research investigates how non-competitive women skateboarders enact and negotiate gender performativity through their social media practices.