The seventeen-year-old who dominated the two stages of the 5000 track walk in Buenos Aires in 2018, grew up on the Chinese plateau of Qinghai-Tibet, a place called the "roof of the world" and certainly this has helped her organically.
Her victory was undisputed, from the first stage, although in the future she should focus on technical improvement to be a little less risk of heart attack as it was in the second heat in Buenos Aires.
The Chinese athlete was a shepherd girl, destined to lead a life of farming as her parents had done. But race walk put her on a different path.
Grown up in a small village with an altitude of over 3,000 meters, Xi used to take care of the sheep and help her parents manage a small refreshment point.
Just four years ago, she was a middle school student who ran in local sporting competitions. She had no real training, but always ended first. She was soon recruited into the Shanxi Province running team and moved to live 1.000 km from his hometown.
From running to walking the pace was short.
"My parents did not want me to go because it was too far away and they worried if I could take care of myself, but I insisted because I really hoped to see the world outside my hometown."
However, she was profoundly missing her family and connected online with her parents every day.
"I always laughed during video chats, and I cried only after hanging up the phone, I did not want my parents to be worried about me, even if they really missed me".
"But I do not regret my choice, if I had not come here (to train), I would probably have become a shepherdess, athletics have changed my life from school to YOG, it's just like a dream."
"When I told my parents the good news of my victory they were so excited that I guess they will have a good sleep".
She is part of the Shanxi Province team and is coached by Yang Sha.
Below her results in this season.
5.000m U18 girls track walk
| DATE | COMPETITION | COUNTRY | PLACE | RESULT |
| | | | | |
| 04 JUL 2018 | Bangkok YOG Asian Area Qualification |  THA | 1. | 23:44.39 |
| 12 OCT 2018 | Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games |  ARG | 1. | 22:23.26 |
| 16 OCT 2018 | Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games | ARG | 1. | 22:40.23 |
| DATE | COMPETITION | COUNTRY | PLACE | RESULT |
| | | | | |
| 07 SEP 2018 | Xi'an Chinese Autumn Race Walking Ch. |  CHN | 1. | 47:13 |
In this event, Xi Ricuo is second in the world list of the season behind Minori Yabuta (JPN) who obtained in Wajima (JPN) on April 14, 2018 a time shorter than only 3" (47.10).