Li Yuejiu (Chinese: 李月久; pinyin: Lǐ Yuèjiǔ; born July 4, 1957) is a male Chinese former gymnast.[1]

Li Yuejiu
Medal record
Men's artistic gymnastics
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1984 Los Angeles Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1981 Moscow Floor
Gold medal – first place 1983 Budapest Team
Bronze medal – third place 1981 Moscow Team

Li was born in Liaoning Province. He competed at the 1984 Olympic Games, and won a silver medal in the Men's Team competition.[2] He was China's first World Champion in floor exercise in 1981. Li retired in October 1984. He went on to study in Canada, and became a coach for the Canadian national gymnastic team. He married in 1986. Later, he and his wife coached in Las Vegas in the United States.

He was the coordinator of the 2008 Chinese men's and women's Olympic teams and led both teams to an Olympic gold medal, as well as the 2006 World Championship team title.

Li's wife is Wu Jiani, also a famed Chinese gymnast. One of their daughters is Anna Li, who competed for the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team during the 2007 – 2010 seasons at the same Pauley Pavilion where her parents won their Olympic medals.[3] Following the Visa Championships and two selection camps at the Karolyi Ranch in New Waverly, Texas, Anna Li was named to the U.S. 2011 World Championship Team.

Li and Wu were the coaches for World Silver Medalist Mackenzie Caquatto from 2004. In April 2009, they opened Legacy Elite Gymnastics in Carol Stream, Illinois.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Chinese Athletes Database: Li Yuejiu, Chinese Olympic Committee
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Li Yuejiu". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2016-12-04.
  3. ^ "Anna Li". UCLA Bruins. April 2010. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012.
  4. ^ "Families bend over backwards for gymnasts". Chicago Tribune. December 1, 2010.
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