Li Ning

Li Ning (born March 10, 1963 in Liuzhou, Guangxi) is a Chinese retired gymnast, billionaire entrepreneur, and the founder of the eponymous sportswear company Li-Ning. He lives in Hong Kong.

For other people named Li Ning, see Li Ning (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.
Li Ning
李宁
Li lighting the torch at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Nickname(s)Prince of gymnastics
Country represented China
Born (1963-03-10) March 10, 1963 race Zhuang
Liuzhou, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight58 kg (128 lb)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Head coach(es)Zhang Jian
Retired1988
Medal record
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1984 Los AngelesFloor
Gold medal – first place1984 Los AngelesPommel Horse
Gold medal – first place1984 Los AngelesRings
Silver medal – second place1984 Los AngelesTeam
Silver medal – second place1984 Los AngelesVault
Bronze medal – third place1984 Los AngelesAll-Around
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1983 BudapestTeam all-around
Gold medal – first place1985 MontrealRings
Silver medal – second place1983 BudapestVault
Silver medal – second place1985 MontrealTeam all-around
Silver medal – second place1985 MontrealPommel horse
Silver medal – second place1987 RotterdamRings
Silver medal – second place1987 RotterdamTeam all-around
Bronze medal – third place1981 MoscowTeam all-around
Bronze medal – third place1983 BudapestRings
Bronze medal – third place1983 BudapestFloor
Bronze medal – third place1985 MontrealFloor
World Cup
Gold medal – first place1982 ZagrebAll-Around
Gold medal – first place1982 ZagrebFloor
Gold medal – first place1982 ZagrebPommel Horse
Gold medal – first place1982 ZagrebRings
Gold medal – first place1982 ZagrebVault
Gold medal – first place1982 ZagrebHorizontal Bar
Bronze medal – third place1982 ZagrebParallel Bars
Gold medal – first place1986 BeijingAll-Around
Gold medal – first place1986 BeijingFloor Exercise
Gold medal – first place1986 BeijingPommel Horse
Bronze medal – third place1986 BeijingRings
Li Ning
Simplified Chinese李宁
Traditional Chinese李寧

Gymnastics career

Li started training at the age of eight and was selected into the national team in 1980. In 1982, he won six of the seven medals awarded at the Sixth World Cup Gymnastic Competition, earning him the title "Prince of Gymnastics" (simplified Chinese: 体操王子; traditional Chinese: 體操王子).

Li is most famous for winning six medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, which was the first Olympics in which the People's Republic of China participated. He won three gold medals (in floor exercise, pommel horse, and rings), two silver medals, and one bronze medal. Li became the most decorated Chinese athlete at the first Olympics that China participated in after the founding of the People's Republic in October 1949.

Li won 11 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships medals, including gold medals in the rings (1985) and team all-around (1983).[1]

Li took part in his second 1988 Olympics in Seoul despite carrying injuries. It was an end to an illustrious gymnastic career, as he was off-form. He did not win any medals that year.

Post-gymnastics
Li Ning on a 1996 Azerbaijani stamp

Li retired from sporting competition in 1988, and in 1990 he founded Li-Ning Company Limited, which sells footwear and sporting apparel in China.[1] Li remains chairman of the company's board of directors. According to Hurun Report's China Rich List 2014, he has an estimated fortune of RMB 5 billion, making him the 407th wealthiest person in China.[2]

Li was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2000, becoming the first Chinese inductee.[3]

In 2017, a statue was erected in his honor on the shores of Lake Geneva in Montreux.[4]

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Li Ning ignited the cauldron at the opening ceremony after being hoisted high into the air with cables and miming running around the rim of the stadium.[5][6][7]

Personal life

Li is married to Chen Yongyan, a fellow gymnast who won an Olympic bronze in 1984.[1]

See also

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Li Ning". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  2. "China Rich List 2014 – Li Ning". Hurun Report. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  3. "LI NING". International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  4. Inauguration of the statue of LI Ning
  5. "Games begin with spectacular show". BBC.co.uk. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  6. "Li Flies High at Opening Ceremonies". International Gymnast. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  7. Fong, Mei (2008-08-25). "Li Ning on the Beijing Olympics". The Wall Street Journal.
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