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Dwayne Li

{{Short description|New Zealand figure skater}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}

{{Western name order|Li Yanhao}}

{{Infobox figure skater

| name = Yanhao Li

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| native_name = {{native name|zh|李彦皞|italics=off}}

| native_name_lang = zh

| fullname = Yanhao Li

| altname = Dwayne Li

| country = {{NZL}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2008|08|12|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Beijing, China

| hometown = Auckland, New Zealand

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}

| coach = Bess Cao

| skating club = Allegro Ice Dance Club

| beganskating = 2012

| retired =

| medalrecord = {{Figure skating infobox medals

| YOG={{FS medal|b|YOG|2024|Gangneung|m}}

}}

| discipline = Men's singles

}}

Yanhao "Dwayne" Li ({{zh|s=李彦皞|t=李彥皞|p=Li Yānhào}}; born 12 August 2008) is a New Zealand figure skater. He is the 2024 Youth Olympic bronze medalist, 2024 Junior Grand Prix Thailand champion, 2024 Junior Grand Prix China bronze medalist, and 2023 Junior Grand Prix Thailand bronze medalist.{{cite web|url= https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/news-fsk/14662-exciting-start-into-the-isu-junior-grand-prix-season-in-bangkok-tha?templateParam=15 |title= Exciting start into the ISU Junior Grand Prix season in Bangkok (THA) |date=August 28, 2023|publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=September 1, 2023}} He is the first New Zealand figure skater to qualify for or medal at any Olympic event and to win a ISU Junior Grand Prix medal. He has also medalled at other international competitions, including gold at the 2024 Cranberry Cup, 2023 Hollins Trophy and 2023 Oceania International, and silver medals at the 2023 Asian Open and 2022 SEA Open Trophy.

Personal life

Li was born on August 12, 2008 in Beijing, China. At the age of eight, his father's work required the family to move to New Zealand, settling in Auckland. Li is bilingual and able to communicate in Mandarin and English fluently. As of 2024, he is a high school student at Macleans College.

In addition to figure skating, Li is also able to play the clarinet.

Career

= Early years =

Li began skating as a four-year-old in China, to escape the summer heat. After arriving in New Zealand at age eight, he joined the Allegro Ice Dance Club and Bess Cao became his coach. He trains at Paradice ice rinks in Botany and Avondale. Commenting on the sport, he said, "I love the feeling of weightlessness when I'm jumping on ice. I really enjoy the rush of wind when picking up speed."

= 2022–23 season =

Li made his international debut in the SEA Open trophy in Singapore, where he finished second. He then made his ISU Junior Grand Prix debut at 2022 JGP Latvia, where he finished sixteenth. He went on to compete on the junior level at the 2022–23 New Zealand Championships, winning the gold medal. Selected to compete at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Li placed twenty-sixth in the short program and did not advance to the free skate segment of the competition.

= 2023–24 season =

Li began the season by competing on the junior level of the 2023 Asian Open Trophy, taking the silver medal. Competing on the 2023–24 Junior Grand Prix series, Li took the bronze medal at the 2023 JGP Thailand with a score of 210.08, beating his previous personal best total score by almost sixty points. This was the first ever Junior Grand Prix medal won for New Zealand. He later finished in fifth place at 2023 JGP Japan three weeks later.

At the 2023–24 New Zealand Championships, Li won the junior national title for the second consecutive time.

In January 2024, Li competed in the men's singles event at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. He placed fourth in the short program, despite suffering a nosebleed midway through the program, which he said had "happened quite a few times before in training, so I just pushed on and finished my routine. It was actually pretty funny." In the free skate, he decided to attempt a triple Axel, and landed the jump, despite a step-out on the landing. Li said afterward that it "was the first time I'd ever done a triple Axel in competition and I was really pleased to stay on my feet." Although fourth in both segments, his total score was third highest, winning the bronze medal. He made history taking New Zealand's first Olympic medal in figure skating, and was one of four New Zealand athletes to win a medal at the 2024 Youth Olympics. After his medal success, he stated: "I was really proud of myself for being here and performing in front of such a big crowd." Li remarked as well that the "Youth Olympic Games used to be a dream. Now I can say it's reality. This is very special to me." Li finished the season at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Taipei, where he came twelfth.

= 2024–25 season =

Li started the season by competing on the junior level at the 2024 Cranberry Cup, where he won the junior men's event with a score of 230.54. He went on to compete on the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix circuit, winning gold at 2024 JGP Thailand and defeating reigning World Junior silver medalist, Rio Nakata. He achieved new personal best scores in both the short (83.25), and free program (146.84), with a total score of 230.09. Li made history as the first figure skater from New Zealand to ever win gold at a Junior Grand Prix event. He called the result "an inspiration to all the skaters in New Zealand. Currently we have a lot of upcoming skaters so I feel like this could be a way to inspire them to improve and to aim higher." He would go on to take the bronze medal at 2024 JGP China behind Nakata and Tian Tonghe of China. Li's results on the Junior Grand Prix guaranteed him a spot at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final, becoming the first skater from New Zealand to qualify for a Grand Prix Figure Skating Final.{{cite web |title=ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2024/2025 - Junior Men |url=https://results.isu.org/events/jgp2024/jgpsmen.htm |website=International Skating Union |access-date=12 October 2024}}

At the Junior Grand Prix Final in Grenoble, France, Li would place fourth in the short program and fifth in the free skate, finishing the event in fifth place overall. Following his free skate, Li said, "I felt pretty shaky out there. I learned that it is all mental. I will have to work on that. I really enjoyed my first JGP experience a lot especially having this competition together with the Seniors. I got really inspired by watching all their practices. I love Yuma’s skating skills and Ilia’s quads. I am looking forward to see them skate tonight."{{cite web |title=Yanhao Li 🇳🇿 129.46 / 201.63 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DDR88nII_ZT/?hl=en |website=Instagram |publisher=Golden Skate |access-date=16 December 2024}}

In late February, Li competed at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, where he finished in tenth place. “I know that for me, it’s all mental," he said after the free skate. "It’s been a long and hard season, so I really want to take some rest now."

Programs

class="wikitable"

! Season

! Short programme

! Free skating

! Exhibition

2025–2026
{{cite web |title=Program Announcement for the 25/26 Season SP |url=https://x.com/InTheLoPodcast/status/1914627125451063601 |website=X |publisher=X |access-date=16 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Program announcement for the 24/25 Season FS |url=https://x.com/InTheLoPodcast/status/1917377953232564508 |website=X |publisher=X |access-date=16 May 2025}}

|

|

|

2024–2025

| rowspan=2 |

|

|

2023–2024

| rowspan=2 |

  • Garde Confiance
    {{small|by The Little Singers of Paris & Romaric Laurence
    choreo. by Bess Cao}}

|

2022–2023

|

----

|

Competitive highlights

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan="4" style="background-color: #ffdead;" align="center" | International: Junior
Event

! 22–23

! 23–24

! 24–25

align=left | Youth Olympicsbgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
align=left | Junior Worlds26th12th10th
align=left | Junior Grand Prix Final5th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Chinabgcolor=cc9966| 3rd
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Japan5th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Latvia16th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Thailandbgcolor=cc9966| 3rdbgcolor=gold| 1st
align=left | Asian Openbgcolor=silver| 2nd
align=left | Cranberry Cupbgcolor=gold|1st
align=left | Hollins Trophybgcolor=gold|1st
align=left | Oceania Intl.bgcolor=gold|1st
align=left | SEA Openbgcolor=silver| 2nd
colspan="4" style="background-color: #ffdead;" align="center" | National
align=left | New Zealand Champ.bgcolor=gold|1st Jbgcolor=gold|1st Jbgcolor=gold|1st J

Detailed results

{{Figure skating personal bests

|ref={{r|SS-YL}}

|230.09|2024 JGP Thailand

|83.25|2024 JGP Thailand

|46.33|2024 JGP Thailand

|37.27|2024 JGP China

|146.84|2024 JGP Thailand

|72.05|2024 JGP Thailand

|74.79|2024 JGP Thailand}}

= Junior level =

class="wikitable"
colspan="5" style="background: #ffdead; text-align:center;" | 2024–25 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 25 – March 2, 2025

| 2025 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 10
72.96

| align=center | 9
142.89

| align=center | 10
215.85

December 5–8, 2024

| 2024–25 JGP Final

| align=center | 4
72.17

| align=center | 5
129.46

| align=center | 5
201.63

October 9–12, 2024

| 2024 JGP China

| align=center | 2
76.10

| align=center | 5
130.35

| align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
206.45

September 11–14, 2024

| 2024 JGP Thailand

| align=center | 1
83.25

| align=center | 1
146.84

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
230.09

August 8–11, 2024

| 2024 Cranberry Cup International

| align=center | 1
77.44

| align=center | 1
153.10

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
230.54

colspan="5" style="background: #ffdead; text-align:center;" | 2023–24 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 26–March 3, 2024

| 2024 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 23
62.84

| align=center | 8
134.63

| align=center | 12
197.47

January 27–29, 2024

| 2024 Youth Olympic Games

| align=center | 4
68.01

| align=center | 4
140.83

| align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
208.84

October 7–10, 2023

| 2023–24 New Zealand Junior Championships

| align=center | 1
73.51

| align=center | 1
135.18

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
208.69

September 13–16, 2023

| 2023 JGP Japan

| align=center | 4
71.39

| align=center | 7
124.41

| align=center | 5
195.80

August 23–26, 2023

| 2023 JGP Thailand

| align=center | 4
72.28

| align=center | 3
137.80

| align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
210.08

August 16–19, 2023

| 2023 Asian Open Trophy

| align=center | 1
65.24

| align=center | 2
109.09

| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2
174.33

colspan="5" style="background: #ffdead; text-align:center;" | 2022–23 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

June 9–12, 2023

| 2023 Hollins Trophy International

| align=center | 1
60.05

| align=center | 1
124.98

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
185.03

May 15–17, 2023

| 2023 Oceania International

| align=center | 1
64.20

| align=center | 1
126.46

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
190.69

February 27–March 5, 2023

| 2023 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 26
57.88

| align=center | –

| align=center | 26
57.88

October 18–21, 2022

| 2022–23 New Zealand Junior Championships

| align=center | 1
60.82

| align=center | 1
123.26

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
184.08

September 7–10, 2022

| 2022 JGP Latvia

| align=center | 14
54.00

| align=center | 16
97.54

| align=center | 16
151.54

September 2–4, 2022

| 2022 Southeast Asian Trophy

| align=center | 2
61.51

| align=center | 2
114.33

| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2
175.84

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00114279.htm |title= Competition Results: Yanhao LI |website= International Skating Union }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |title= Yanhao LI: 2022/2023 (1st SP) |website= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220824113145/http://isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |archive-date= 24 August 2022 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |title= Yanhao LI: 2022/2023 (2nd SP) |website= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230522183841/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |archive-date= 22 May 2023 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |title= Yanhao LI: 2023/2024 |website= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129002046/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |title= Yanhao LI: 2024/2025 |website= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240916033748/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |archive-date= 16 September 2024 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |title= Yanhao LI: 2025/2026 |website= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250617191121/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114279.htm |archive-date= 17 June 2025 |url-status= dead }}

{{cite web |url= https://olympics.com/gangwon-2024/en/results/figure-skating/athlete-profile-n1003002-yanhao-li.htm |title= Yanhao LI |website= olympics.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129212610/https://olympics.com/gangwon-2024/en/results/figure-skating/athlete-profile-n1003002-yanhao-li.htm |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.allegro.org.nz/blog/post/50265/Reflections-from-our-Allegro-Figure-Skaters/ |title= Reflections from our Allegro Figure Skaters |website= Allegro Ice Dance Club |date= 1 June 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200918232857/https://www.allegro.org.nz/blog/post/50265/Reflections-from-our-Allegro-Figure-Skaters/|archive-date= 18 September 2020 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/other-sport/auckland-teen-starting-cut-fine-figure-world-stage |title= Auckland teen starting to cut a fine figure on world stage |first= Kayla |last= Hodge |newspaper=Otago Daily Times |date= 12 October 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231016205216/https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/other-sport/auckland-teen-starting-cut-fine-figure-world-stage |archive-date= 16 October 2023 |url-status= bot: unknown |access-date= 29 January 2024 }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300987029/auckland-ice-skater-sets-sights-on-creating-new-zealand-olympic-history |title= Auckland ice skater sets sights on creating New Zealand Olympic history |first= Chris |last= McKeen |website=Stuff |date= 14 October 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129085203/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300987029/auckland-ice-skater-sets-sights-on-creating-new-zealand-olympic-history |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/06/auckland-teen-selected-as-nzs-first-ever-olympic-figure-skater/ |title= Auckland teen selected as NZ's first-ever Olympic figure skater |website=1News |date= 6 December 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129091244/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/06/auckland-teen-selected-as-nzs-first-ever-olympic-figure-skater/ |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://olympic.org.nz/news/new-zealand-names-first-ever-figure-skater-for-winter-youth-olympic-games |title= New Zealand names first ever figure skater for Winter Youth Olympic Games |website= olympic.org.nz |date= 15 December 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129085106/https://www.olympic.org.nz/news/new-zealand-names-first-ever-figure-skater-for-winter-youth-olympic-games/ |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018918477/15-yo-ice-skater-dwayne-li-representing-nz-at-gangwon-2024 |title= 15 yo ice skater Dwayne Li representing NZ at Gangwon 2024 |website=RNZ |date= 7 December 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129180921/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018918477/15-yo-ice-skater-dwayne-li-representing-nz-at-gangwon-2024 |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://sunlive.co.nz/news/336070-kiwi-stuns-in-figure-skating-.html |title= Kiwi stuns in figure skating |website= sunlive.co.nz |date= 29 January 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240128230558/https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/336070-kiwi-stuns-in-figure-skating-.html |archive-date= 28 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/507875/new-zealand-wins-first-winter-youth-olympic-games-figure-skating-medal |title= New Zealand wins first Winter Youth Olympic Games figure skating medal |website=RNZ |date= 29 January 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129205258/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/507875/new-zealand-wins-first-winter-youth-olympic-games-figure-skating-medal |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://olympics.com/en/news/yanhao-li-nzl-bronze |title= Li Yanhao (NZL) - bronze |website= olympics.com |date= 29 January 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240129213031/https://olympics.com/en/news/yanhao-li-nzl-bronze |archive-date= 29 January 2024 |url-status= live }}

{{cite news |url= https://olympic.org.nz/news/new-zealand-wins-first-ever-ice-figure-skating-medal-at-winter-youth-olympic-games |title= New Zealand wins first ever ice figure skating medal at Winter Youth Olympic Games |website= New Zealand Olympic Committee |date= 29 January 2024 |access-date= 12 March 2024 }}

{{cite web |title=Yanhao LI |url=http://www.skatingscores.com/nzl/men/yanhao_li/ |website=Skating Scores |access-date=3 February 2024}}

{{cite web|url= https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/news-fsk/15051-youngsters-make-history-for-china-and-new-zealand-at-isu-junior-grand-prix-in-bangkok?templateParam=15 |title= Youngsters make history for China and New Zealand at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Bangkok |publisher=International Skating Union |date=September 16, 2024 |access-date=September 22, 2024}}

{{cite web |last1=Dombrowski |first1=Judith |title=Yanhao Li sets high goals for Junior Worlds |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/yanhao-li-sets-high-goals-for-junior-worlds/ |website=Golden Skate |access-date=31 December 2024}}

{{cite news |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/japans-rio-nakata-captures-junior-world-mens-title-in-debrecen/ |title=Japan’s Rio Nakata captures Junior World men’s title in Debrecen |first= Paula |last= Slater |work= Golden Skate |date= February 28, 2025}}

}}

External links

  • {{isu name|id=00114279|name=Yanhao LI}}
  • {{NZOC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Dwayne}}

Category:2008 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand figure skaters

Category:Sportspeople from Auckland

Category:Figure skaters from Beijing

Category:Chinese emigrants to New Zealand

Category:Figure skaters at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics

Category:Youth Olympic bronze medalists for New Zealand

Category:People educated at Macleans College

Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen