Li Yan (speed Skater) - Athletic Career

Athletic Career

She was born in the city of Dalian in Liaoning Province. and as she was two years old, moved to Baoquanling collective farm in Heilongjiang where her father worked as a military officer. She attended the local school, which maintained a speed skating team. From that team she was recruited to attend a sports school in Jiamusi in 1979. According to her coach in Jiamusi, He Peicheng, Li trained very hard and could withstand extremely cold temperatures. "She would cry but she would finish all of her exercises." In 1982, she finished second at a national youth speed skating competition.

Li joined China's national short track speed skating team in 1987. In 1988, when short track speed skating first appeared at the Winter Olympics in Calgary as a demonstration sport, she competed and won the 1000m and finished third in the 500m and 1500m events.

In 1992, after short skating sport became an official Olympic sport in Alberville, she won the silver medal in the 500m event, finishing 0.04 s behind Cathy Turner of the United States. It was the third ever medal for China at the Winter Olympic Games. Li was also a member of the Chinese women's short track relay team that finished eighth.

Li retired from the sport after 14 years and attended Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian where she majored in international finance. She said she chose the major because the international nature of the subject ensured she could study English and finance was a popular major at the time. After graduation, she worked for the Dalian tax bureau for one and half years.