Zou Kai
Encyclopedia
Zou Kai is a Chinese
gymnast
. He was part of the Chinese team that won the gold medal in the team event at the 2006 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
and the 2006 Asian Games
. Zou won three gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
and as a result was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year in 2009.
in Beijing, he contributed to the team's gold and also won unexpected individual gold medals at the Floor Exercise and the Horizontal Bar
scoring 16.050 and 16.200 respectively. Zou is the second Chinese Olympian to receive three gold medals at a single Olympic Games (Li Ning
first achieved this feat at the 1984 Summer Olympics
). As a specialist of the Chinese Men's Gymnastics team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Zou has strengths in both the Floor Exercise and the Horizontal Bar, although he is working towards becoming an All-Around gymnast.
(female Olympic Chinese gymnast), when asked if he will train to be an all-around gymnast he replied, "My talents are limited, but if I can learn more to become one then I will learn more."
. Out of the three gold medals he won at the 2008 Summer Olympics
he chose the medal won during his Floor Exercise routine for its special purpose since only two Chinese gymnasts have ever won it (Li Ning
and Li Xiaoshuang
).
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
gymnast
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
. He was part of the Chinese team that won the gold medal in the team event at the 2006 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2006 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
39th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held in Aarhus, Denmark from October 13 to October 21, 2006 in NRGi Arena.It was the first time the World Gymnastics Championships was organized by a Danish city...
and the 2006 Asian Games
2006 Asian Games
The 15th Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, is Asia's Olympic-style sporting event that was held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to December 15, 2006. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games...
. Zou won three gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and as a result was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year in 2009.
2008 Summer Olympics
On his Olympic debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, he contributed to the team's gold and also won unexpected individual gold medals at the Floor Exercise and the Horizontal Bar
Horizontal bar
The high bar, also known as the horizontal bar, is an apparatus used by male gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics. It traditionally consists of a cylindrical metal bar that is rigidly held above and parallel to the floor by a system of cables and stiff vertical supports. Gymnasts typically wear leather...
scoring 16.050 and 16.200 respectively. Zou is the second Chinese Olympian to receive three gold medals at a single Olympic Games (Li Ning
Li Ning
Li Ning is a well-known Chinese gymnast and entrepreneur. He was born in an ethnic Zhuang family.-Gymnastics career:...
first achieved this feat at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
). As a specialist of the Chinese Men's Gymnastics team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Zou has strengths in both the Floor Exercise and the Horizontal Bar, although he is working towards becoming an All-Around gymnast.
Future Plans
During an interview with Liu XuanLiu Xuan (gymnast)
Liu Xuan is a Chinese Gymnast. She was coached by Guo Xinming and Zhang Zhen.Liu said she took up gymnastics with encouragement from her mom, who had to cease gymnastics training during her younger years because of the closure of the gym during the Cultural Revolution...
(female Olympic Chinese gymnast), when asked if he will train to be an all-around gymnast he replied, "My talents are limited, but if I can learn more to become one then I will learn more."
Charitable Work
Zou Kai who is a Sichuan native plans to auction off his gold medal win for Floor Exercise and donate all proceeds to relief funds of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake2008 Sichuan earthquake
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...
. Out of the three gold medals he won at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
he chose the medal won during his Floor Exercise routine for its special purpose since only two Chinese gymnasts have ever won it (Li Ning
Li Ning
Li Ning is a well-known Chinese gymnast and entrepreneur. He was born in an ethnic Zhuang family.-Gymnastics career:...
and Li Xiaoshuang
Li Xiaoshuang
Li Xiaoshuang is a Chinese gymnast and Olympic champion. Li Xiaoshuang and his twin brother Li Dashuang's gymnastics talent was discovered at the age of six...
).