Li Li (gymnast)
Encyclopedia
Li Li is an artistic gymnast
from China
. She competed during the early 1990s, and retired in 1994. An Olympian, World Cup medallist and national champion, the beam was her best apparatus. Here, she pioneered the exceptionally difficult and innovative 1 1/4 turning back spin. No other gymnast has been able to perform the maneuver with as many spins.
in Seattle, USA, where she wowed the world with her trademark 1 1/4 back spin on the beam, as well as a rare German giant into a Tkatchev on the un-even bars. Later the same year, she won one gold (team) and silver (bars) at the Asian Games
, followed by another silver (beam) at the World Cup (her teammate Yang Bo took the gold). The following year, she competed at the 1991 World Championships in Indianapolis
where the Chinese team placed 4th.
At the 1992 Olympic Games
, Li finished 14th in the all-round, and made the bars final where she placed 8th (9.887). Her teammate Lu Li
won the gold with a perfect 10.0, one of only two 10s awarded at those Games. Again the Chinese women finished 4th in the team competition.
Li Li took the early lead in the all-around of the 1993 World Championships in Birmingham
after performing on her best event, the beam. She stunned the crowd with a Yurchenko loop followed by the 1 1/4 back spin, and scored 9.837, the 2nd highest score awarded on that night (Tatiana Lysenko got a 9.862 on her first vault). Li dropped to 9th place overall in the end after mediocre performance on other apparatus. She was in contention to win the beam gold in the event finals, but after a mistake on her Yang Bo jump, she decided to duplicate the element and as a result went over-time, which cost her two tenths of a point and dropped her to 4th place (9.600). Without the deduction, she would have taken the silver. Another favorite for the gold, Shannon Miller
, had a disastrous performance, falling from the beam twice and sitting on her dismount (7.850). The gold went to Lavinia Miloşovici
(9.850), who had a simple and plain routine in comparison to Miller's and Li Li's.
Li went on to win the beam title in the 1993 East Asian Games
and also the 1993 Chinese National Games. She was in the 1994 World Championships in Brisbane
but failed to make the beam final, qualifying 22nd in the preliminaries (9.237). She retired from the sport soon after.
She is now a women's gymnastics coach at Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville, OH.
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She competed during the early 1990s, and retired in 1994. An Olympian, World Cup medallist and national champion, the beam was her best apparatus. Here, she pioneered the exceptionally difficult and innovative 1 1/4 turning back spin. No other gymnast has been able to perform the maneuver with as many spins.
Career
Li made her international debut at the 1990 Goodwill GamesGoodwill Games
The Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
in Seattle, USA, where she wowed the world with her trademark 1 1/4 back spin on the beam, as well as a rare German giant into a Tkatchev on the un-even bars. Later the same year, she won one gold (team) and silver (bars) at the Asian Games
1990 Asian Games
The 11th Asian Games also known as XI Asiad were held from September 22, 1990 to October 7, 1990 in Beijing, China. It was the first large-scale international sports event to be held in the People's Republic of China. A total number of 6,122 athletes, coming from 37 countries, competed in 29 sports...
, followed by another silver (beam) at the World Cup (her teammate Yang Bo took the gold). The following year, she competed at the 1991 World Championships in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
where the Chinese team placed 4th.
At the 1992 Olympic Games
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, Li finished 14th in the all-round, and made the bars final where she placed 8th (9.887). Her teammate Lu Li
Lu Li
Lu Li is a Chinese gymnast.Lu made the Chinese national team in late 1991. However, liver illness almost prevented her from competing in the Olympics...
won the gold with a perfect 10.0, one of only two 10s awarded at those Games. Again the Chinese women finished 4th in the team competition.
Li Li took the early lead in the all-around of the 1993 World Championships in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
after performing on her best event, the beam. She stunned the crowd with a Yurchenko loop followed by the 1 1/4 back spin, and scored 9.837, the 2nd highest score awarded on that night (Tatiana Lysenko got a 9.862 on her first vault). Li dropped to 9th place overall in the end after mediocre performance on other apparatus. She was in contention to win the beam gold in the event finals, but after a mistake on her Yang Bo jump, she decided to duplicate the element and as a result went over-time, which cost her two tenths of a point and dropped her to 4th place (9.600). Without the deduction, she would have taken the silver. Another favorite for the gold, Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller
Shannon Lee Miller is a former artistic gymnast from Edmond, Oklahoma. She is the most decorated gymnast in U.S. History, and considered one of the greatest gymnasts the United States has ever produced...
, had a disastrous performance, falling from the beam twice and sitting on her dismount (7.850). The gold went to Lavinia Miloşovici
Lavinia Milosovici
Lavinia Corina Miloşovici is a Romanian Olympic gymnast. An exceptionally successful athlete on the international competition circuit, Miloşovici, also known as "Milo" in the gymnastics community, is considered to be one of Romania's top gymnasts of the 1990s and one of the most prolific female...
(9.850), who had a simple and plain routine in comparison to Miller's and Li Li's.
Li went on to win the beam title in the 1993 East Asian Games
1993 East Asian Games
The 1st East Asian Games were held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China from May 9 to May 18, 1993. The main stadium for the inaugural edition of the games was the Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium....
and also the 1993 Chinese National Games. She was in the 1994 World Championships in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
but failed to make the beam final, qualifying 22nd in the preliminaries (9.237). She retired from the sport soon after.
She is now a women's gymnastics coach at Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville, OH.