Li Ning

Li Ning (Simplified Chinese: 李宁; Traditional Chinese: 李寧; Pinyin: Lǐ Níng; born March 10, 1963 in Liuzhou, Guangxi) is a well-known Chinese gymnast and entrepreneur. He was born in an ethnic Zhuang family.

Gymnastics career

Li started training at the age of eight and he 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" (体操王子/體操王子).

Li is most famous for winning 6 medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, which was the first Olympics in which the People's Republic of China participated. He won 3 gold medals (in floor exercise, pommel horse, and rings), 2 silver medals, and a bronze medal. Li became the most decorated Chinese athlete at their first Olympics.

All in all Li won 14 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships titles.

Li took part in his second 1988 Olympics despite carrying injuries. It was a disappointing end to an illustrious career, as he was clearly off-form and made many mistakes which robbed him of the chance of a medal.

Post-gymnastics life

Li retired from sporting competition in 1988, and in 1990 he founded Li-Ning Company Limited, which sells footwear and sporting apparel in China. Li remains chairman of the company's board of directors.

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

At the 2008 Summer......
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