Tao started swimming in Sichuan Province in China at the age of nine. Since then her life has always been centred around the pool.  By the time Tao was thirteen she was a member of the Sichuan Provincial Team.  During her athletic career she held the provincial backstroke record for several years, won many national medals, and was awarded the title of China's National Swimming Master.  After her athletic career she started coaching and has done so for more than thirty years. During this time, she also attended numerous training courses, such as those hosted by the National Swimming Association of China. She has helped develop young swimmers into provincially ranked athletes and has sent athletes from the Sichuan Provincial team to rank in China's National Swimming Championships.  Many of her Chinese athletes went on to win national championships, medals, and also the title of National Swimming Master.

Tao coached UCSC’s Black 12 Squad for the first two years, and the Gold 11 Squad for her second two years with the club. She has helped many swimmers achieve both Alberta Provincial and Alberta Championship standards. She absolutely enjoys and loves her career coaching young swimmers in developing their skills and competitive mindset.  She is looking forward to applying her vast coaching experience in her sixth competitive season at UCSC, and will be coaching 12C for the second year in a row this year.