In 2008 he improved his best by a centimetre, recording a jump of 8.08 m at both the Chinese Olympic Trials (where he was runner-up) and the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix (where he was China's sole medallist). Due to the scheduling of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, that year's Chinese Athletics Championships were held late in October and Su won his first national long jump title in the absence of more experienced rivals. He competed at the 2009 Summer Universiade for Huazhong University and came fourth behind Marcin Starzak of Poland. He represented his province for the first time at the 2009 National Games of China and although he had his best jump of the season there (8.05 m), it was again only enough for fourth place.