) is a Chinese

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

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...

 and Olympic champion. Li Xiaoshuang and his twin brother Li Dashuang

Li Dashuang

Li Dashuang is a Chinese artistic gymnast and twin of Li Xiaoshuang.-External links:...

's gymnastics talent was discovered at the age of six. Both of them became a member of China's gymnastics team

China at the 1992 Summer Olympics

The People's Republic of China competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.-Medalists:After the olympics, the name "Five Golden Flowers" was given to the five medalist swimmers Yang Wenyi , Zhuang Yong , Lin Li , Qian Hong and Wang Xiaohong...

 that won a silver medal in the team competition

Gymnastics at the 1992 Summer Olympics

At the 1992 Summer Olympics, two different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. The artistic gymnastics events were held at the Palau Sant Jordi from July 26 through August 2...

 at 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...

.

When Li Xiaoshuang arrived at 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...

, he was a talented but relatively unknown 18-year-old. He ended up leaving the Olympics with three medals. His most notable achievement was the gold medal he won on floor exercise due in large part to the rare triple-back somersault he executed in his first pass. He also garnered a silver in the team, and a bronze on the still rings.

In the two years following his Olympic triumph, Li failed to make headlines. His gymnastics became sloppy, and he consistently appeared unfocused at major international competition. Finally, in 1995, he re-emerged as the top male gymnast in the world. He blew away the competition at the 1995 World Championships

1995 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

The 30th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held at Sun Dome Fukui in Sabae, Japan in 1995.- All-round :NB: Team rosters are incomplete.- Apparatus :- All-around :- Vault :- Uneven Bars :- Balance Beam :- Floor Exercise:...

 in Sabae; first leading the Chinese team to a second consecutive team championship, then dominating the all-around defeating second place finisher Vitaly Scherbo by over a point en route. The entire Chinese team, male and female, served notice to the world that they were to be sure contenders for more gold medals at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

The male Chinese team were slated by most to dominate the team competition, just as they had in the previous two World Championships. Li was the undisputed leader. Through five events in the compulsories, the Chinese were rolling through the competition. On their final event, rings, Li made a bizarre error when his right hand slid through the hoop as he attempted to descend into an iron cross. He remained stuck in that position for a brief moment, used his strength to pull himself back up and re-position himself, and finished his routine without incident. The mistake cost him dearly, however, as the judges gave him a 8.350 for the routine, putting him in danger of not even qualifying for the all-around competition. The Chinese team proceeded to come unglued in the optionals, having to count two misses on high bar in the latter stages, and finishing a distant second behind the Russians. Li competed solidly, however, and qualified sixth into the all-around finals. Li admitted that the failure of his team meant that it was now upon him to redeem himself and his country in the all-around.

The all-around featured a fierce battle between Li and rising Russian star Alexei Nemov

Alexei Nemov

Alexei Yurievich Nemov is a gymnast from Russia and one of the most medaled gymnasts, male or female, of all time. He has won 12 Olympic medals, including more Olympic bronze medals than any other athlete. Nemov's sense of showmanship and his difficult routines have won him many fans...

. No one outside of those two led the competition throughout. The battle for gold came down to their last routines, where Li nailed his high bar routine for a 9.787, and Nemov botched a tumbling run on floor for a 9.700. In the end, Li claimed the gold by .05 of a point. Li became the first Chinese Olympic all-around Champion and joined the ranks of legendary star, Li Ning

Li Ning

Li Ning is a well-known Chinese gymnast and entrepreneur. He was born in an ethnic Zhuang family.-Gymnastics career:...

.

Li retired in 1997 and has since started his own sporting apparel company, also like Li Ning.