Li Ning

Li Ning (born 10 March 1963) is a Chinese entrepreneur and retired gymnast. He is of Zhuang ethnicity from Liuzhou, Guangxi. Nicknamed “Prince of Gymnastics” and “Gymnastics King,” he was the final torchbearer who lit the cauldron at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Early life and gymnastics career

Li Ning joined the Guangxi Provincial Gymnastics Team in 1971 and was selected for the Chinese national team in 1980.

At the 1982 World Cup in Moscow, he won six gold medals (all-around, floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, horizontal bar) and a bronze (parallel bars), creating an unprecedented achievement in gymnastics history and earning him the title “Prince of Gymnastics.”

Over a 17‑year career, Li won 14 world titles and 106 international and domestic gold medals. Many experts regard him as the most technical and most complete male gymnast ever. His signature skills on rings, pommel horse, and parallel bars were officially named after him by the International Gymnastics Federation.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Li won three golds, two silvers, and one bronze, making him the top medalist of those Games. He competed injured at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, suffered multiple errors under intense scrutiny, and retired with regret.

Business career

In 1989 he joined Jianlibao Group at the invitation of general manager Li Jingwei. In 1990 he founded Li Ning Company Limited,^[1] serving as its Chairman and Executive Director. By the end of 2007, Li Ning was the world’s fourth‑largest sportswear brand with a market value of US $3.861 billion. On 2 September 2019, he became Chairman and Co‑CEO. He also acquired China Ever Brilliant Group and, in partnership, Bossini.

Education

Li Ning earned a law degree from Peking University in 2002 and an EMBA from Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management the same year. He holds honorary doctorates from Loughborough University (2001) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2008), and an honorary fellowship from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2010).^[2]

Charity and social work

Through the Li Ning Foundation, he supports current and former Chinese athletes and coaches via the China Athletes’ Education Fund, and promotes education in impoverished regions. In October 2009, he was appointed China’s first WFP Goodwill Ambassador.^[3]

Sporting honours

In 1987, Li was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission. In 1999, he was named one of the “Top 25 Athletes of the Century” by the World Association of International Sports Federations. In 2000, he became the first Chinese gymnast inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In 2008, he lit the Olympic cauldron at Beijing’s National Stadium.

World championships and cups

1982 World Cup: Floor, Pommel horse, Rings, Vault, Horizontal bar, All‑around (golds); Parallel bars (bronze)
1983 World Championships: Team (gold)
1984 Olympics: Floor, Pommel horse, Rings (golds)
1985 World Championships: Rings (gold)
1986 World Cup: All‑around, Floor, Vault (golds)

Listed companies

Li Ning Company Limited (HKEx: 2331) – 10 % stake (HK $9.2 billion)
China Ever Brilliant Group (HKEx: 8032) – 56 % stake (HK $6.1 billion)
Bossini International Holdings (HKEx: 592) – 56 % stake (HK $0.28 billion)

Property holdings

Former residence at 33 Heng Dau Road, valued at HK $400 million (bought 2006 for HK $150 million; since sold).
Apartment at 21 Borrett Road, Mid‑levels West, 2,945 sq ft, purchased for HK $232.8 million (including two parking spaces).

He and related parties also bought an office unit at 888 Lai Chi Kok Road (1,448 sq ft) for HK $19.22 million in late 2020.

Li Ning’s eponymous brand acquired 218 Electric Road, North Point, in December 2023 for HK $2.208 billion to serve as corporate headquarters (14.4 × 10^4 sq ft over 24 floors).

Racehorses

Li Ning and his brothers own racehorses with names beginning “Gui…” (e.g. Gui Hua Piao Xiang). He is also part of the “Friends of Mark” syndicate with Li Xiaopeng and Liu Xuan, owning “Shen Long Ju.”

Film and television

Television

1993: Wu Zun Shaolin as Pu Zhao

Film

1990: Dragon Fire Great Wall as Eldest Brother
1994: The Seven-Sided Sword
2006: Light Blue, Deep Blue as Li Ning

References

Authority control

[1] ttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E5%AE%81#cite_ref-1

[2] ttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E5%AE%81#cite_ref-2

[3] ttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E5%AE%81#cite_ref-3

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