Interview with Li Ning: Business and Life

In the recent past, he mentioned, "I've been reading *Zi Zi Tong Jian*, and I find it very fulfilling. I don't really like being too utilitarian." At one point, Li Ning even posed for a "Pop Art" photo—dressed in red sportswear with a black suit jacket, holding an Olympic champion trophy. At the end of the last century, Li Ning was honored as the "World's Best Athlete of the 20th Century" by the International Association of Sports Journalists. Only 25 individuals have ever received this prestigious award in the past 100 years, and Li Ning's name is listed alongside legends like Pelé, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan. In 2006, Li Ning was named one of the 60 Asian Heroes by *Time Weekly* magazine. The publication praised him as "a legendary figure who has shown remarkable adaptability in both gymnastics and business." At that time, Li Ning Sports Goods had already been listed on Hong Kong’s main board market, becoming the first Chinese sports brand to do so. As chairman, Li Ning personally owns 37% of the company's shares, and his personal wealth is estimated at nearly 2 billion yuan. Time magazine once remarked, "Li Ning proved that in China, business success can be just as impressive as Olympic gold." However, rather than being labeled as a "businessman," he was featured in the "Athletes and Explorers" section of the magazine. In fact, the "explorer" side of Li Ning is less known. In the early days of his business career, he faced many challenges, even taking on roles as an actor. "It's just my personality," he admitted. "I love freedom." Today, Li Ning rarely appears at the company's headquarters in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay. He lives in a private residential area in Deep Water Bay, where he enjoys a more relaxed lifestyle. His acting roles in films like *Seven King Kong* and TV series such as *Wulin Supreme* are still sold on disc in Hong Kong. Li Ning began learning Chinese painting at the age of 18, while still a top member of the national gymnastics team. Wu Dongkui, his teacher, recalled, "He often came on weekends. There was no food in the canteen, so we both just boiled a bowl of instant noodles." His favorite painting is "Black Bamboo." "After painting, I became less impulsive during training," he realized. "The balance between hardness and softness in bamboo painting mirrors the movements in gymnastics." Years later, Li Ning's reputation grew even stronger. In 1984, he won three gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics—on the floor, rings, and pommel horse. "When I returned to Guangxi, the streets were packed with people cheering," he said. "I was sitting in a taxi, and everywhere I looked, there were crowds. It was an unforgettable experience." Four years later, at the Seoul Olympics, he fell from the rings. That marked the end of his competitive gymnastics career. The public reaction to his fall was mixed. His smile after the accident turned him from a hero into a "sinner" in some people's eyes. Some even sent him threatening letters. "I like to laugh," Li Ning later said. "It's part of who I am." But in that era, China was still emerging from isolation, and people were eager for victories. "They needed championships, not just sports." "At that time, I probably would have become a head coach or an officer," he recalls. "But I got angry when I was criticized, and I left." Choosing to start a business was a bold move in the sports world. "First make money, then paint," he joked. "When I was an athlete, I never wore Chinese-branded clothes," Li Ning said. "I didn’t know what would happen in the future." Li Jingwei, a former coach, saw potential in him. "He's young and smart. His character is good." The transition from athlete to entrepreneur was tough. "As an athlete, everything was provided by the country," Li Ning remembered. "But when I was on my own, I didn’t know how to handle anything—how to write a project proposal, or where to turn for help." "In sports, there are clear rules and a defined end. But doing business isn’t so simple," he said. At his first meeting, no one bought his products. "I had to find ways to promote myself. I gradually built a franchise system." His breakthrough came during the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. By persuading officials to choose his brand over a foreign sponsor, he secured a deal worth 2.5 million yuan instead of $3 million. In August 1990, Li Ning took the Asian Games flame from a Tibetan girl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, wearing his white sportswear. This moment, broadcast across the nation, made "Li Ning" a household name. During the torch relay, 200 million people participated directly, and 2.5 billion viewers learned about the brand through media. Many remember seeing leaders wear "Li Ning" clothing on TV. After the Games, "Li Ning" became a sensation overnight. Within the closing month of the event, the company received a 15 million yuan order. For subsequent Asian Games and Olympics, Chinese athletes never wore other brands when they won medals.

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