Lu Li
Encyclopedia
Lu Li (born August 30, 1976) is a Chinese
gymnast.
Lu made the Chinese national team in late 1991. However, liver illness almost prevented her from competing in the Olympics. In April 1992, just a few months before the Barcelona Games, she made her international debut at the World Championships in Paris, where her highly innovative uneven bars routine caught the attention of the gymnastics world. Because of a big step on the dismount, she only placed 4th (although she was the leading gymnast in qualifying for the final). Many thought she could have become world champion had she been able to stick her landing.
Lu is best known for her gold medal on bars in the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
. She won this with a perfect 10, which she achieved on the same night as Lavinia Miloşovici
, who received more publicity for hers. Lu Li also won a silver on beam in the same games (tied with American Shannon Miller
with a score of 9.912), making her China's second most successful female Olympic gymnast after Liu Xuan
, although a lot of gymnastics fans considered her beam routine too simple to deserve a tied-silver with Miller (Lu actually qualified first for the beam finals after strong showing in both team compulsories and optionals). Lu had troubles on her beam performance in the all-round competition though, and placed a disappointing 34th.
Lu competed in the 1993 Chinese National Games and won the un-even bars title (tied with Luo Li, who would go on to win the 1994 World Championships in Brisbane). She retired shortly thereafter.
In 2000, Lu Li moved to California and was a coach there. She is also happily married to Kim David Gussenhoven and has a son named J. She recently moved to North Carolina in 2007, and was still a coach. Then, in 2009, Lu Li moved to Stockton, California and coached at Champion Gymnastics Academy. On September 1, 2009, Li, Kim, and J moved to Washington and was hired to coach at Emerald City Gymnastics in Redmond.
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...
gymnast.
Lu made the Chinese national team in late 1991. However, liver illness almost prevented her from competing in the Olympics. In April 1992, just a few months before the Barcelona Games, she made her international debut at the World Championships in Paris, where her highly innovative uneven bars routine caught the attention of the gymnastics world. Because of a big step on the dismount, she only placed 4th (although she was the leading gymnast in qualifying for the final). Many thought she could have become world champion had she been able to stick her landing.
Lu is best known for her gold medal on bars in the 1992 Summer Olympics
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...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. She won this with a perfect 10, which she achieved on the same night as 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...
, who received more publicity for hers. Lu Li also won a silver on beam in the same games (tied with American 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...
with a score of 9.912), making her China's second most successful female Olympic gymnast after Liu Xuan
Liu 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...
, although a lot of gymnastics fans considered her beam routine too simple to deserve a tied-silver with Miller (Lu actually qualified first for the beam finals after strong showing in both team compulsories and optionals). Lu had troubles on her beam performance in the all-round competition though, and placed a disappointing 34th.
Lu competed in the 1993 Chinese National Games and won the un-even bars title (tied with Luo Li, who would go on to win the 1994 World Championships in Brisbane). She retired shortly thereafter.
In 2000, Lu Li moved to California and was a coach there. She is also happily married to Kim David Gussenhoven and has a son named J. She recently moved to North Carolina in 2007, and was still a coach. Then, in 2009, Lu Li moved to Stockton, California and coached at Champion Gymnastics Academy. On September 1, 2009, Li, Kim, and J moved to Washington and was hired to coach at Emerald City Gymnastics in Redmond.