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.

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
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
1984 Los AngelesFloor
1984 Los AngelesPommel Horse
1984 Los AngelesRings
1984 Los AngelesTeam
1984 Los AngelesVault
1984 Los AngelesAll-Around
World Championships
1983 BudapestTeam all-around
1985 MontrealRings
1983 BudapestVault
1985 MontrealTeam all-around
1985 MontrealPommel horse
1987 RotterdamRings
1987 RotterdamTeam all-around
1981 MoscowTeam all-around
1983 BudapestRings
1983 BudapestFloor
1985 MontrealFloor
World Cup
1982 ZagrebAll-Around
1982 ZagrebFloor
1982 ZagrebPommel Horse
1982 ZagrebRings
1982 ZagrebVault
1982 ZagrebHorizontal Bar
1982 ZagrebParallel Bars
1986 BeijingAll-Around
1986 BeijingFloor Exercise
1986 BeijingPommel Horse
1986 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 made crucial mistakes and consequently missed out medals.

Post-gymnastics life
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]

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.[4][5][6]

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. "Games begin with spectacular show". BBC.co.uk. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  5. "Li Flies High at Opening Ceremonies". International Gymnast. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  6. Fong, Mei (2008-08-25). "Li Ning on the Beijing Olympics". The Wall Street Journal.
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Stefania Belmondo		 Final Olympic torchbearer
Beijing 2008		 Succeeded by
Catriona Le May Doan, Steve Nash,
Nancy Greene and Wayne Gretzky
Preceded by
Nikolaos Kaklamanakis		 Final Summer Olympic torchbearer
Beijing 2008		 Succeeded by
Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt, Desiree Henry, Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds, and Adelle Tracey
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