One year after the Olympics, Wu set a world record of 2:09.72 at the 1997 Chinese National Games, where she also placed 2nd in the 400 IM (4:36.28; the race was won by Chen Yan in a world record of 4:34.79) and third in the 200 back (2:10.71) and 200 fly (2:10.45). She went on to win the 200 IM at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, Australia in the 2nd fastest time ever (2:10.88), and also placed 4th in the 200 fly (2:10.22, the only Chinese swimmer to set a personal best in Perth) and 400 IM (4:40.16). After the win, her times dropped off significantly, though she managed to win the 200 IM gold at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand (2:15.12). She also competed in the 1999 Short Course Worlds in Hong Kong but did not medal.