Anna Li was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 4, 1988. Her parents were both 1984 Olympians for China. Her parents coached her until around 2004. Her dad moved back to China to coach the national team. Anna trained at Las Vegas Flyers till she moved to Naperville Gymnastics in Illinois. After her dad left, she trained at Aerial Gymnastics before leaving for UCLA.

Anna was an all-around State Champion at every level. As a level eight, she won the regional all-around title and the beam title. At the level nine western championships, she won beam. Anna competed as a level ten for four years. She qualified to the Junior Olympic National Championships all four times. In 2002, she placed eighth all-around. That year also had her named to the regional all star team. In 2003, she won states and the Vegas Vacation meet. At JO Nationals, Anna moved up one spot to seventh place. She also won beam. After JO Nationals, she competed at the US Challenge as a junior national elite.

Anna had a great season in 2004. She finished second all-around and on bars at the JO National Championships! She also defended her balance beam title. Anna also made senior international elite. At the US Classic, she placed thirteenth all-around. This qualified her for the National Championships. In 2005, she suffered from several injuries. However, she was able to compete at Nationals for the second time.

Due of an injury, Anna was not be able to compete most of 2006 season. When Anna was training at UCLA for pre-season, she tore her labrum in her hip. She had a surgery in November and the progression went really well and started fully training one month later. Anna's 2007 season started at a home game at the Pulley Pavilion against Washington. The interesting fact is that Anna is competing at the very same place where her parents competed at the 1984 Olympics! Anna's dad flew in from China so he could be with the family and watched Anna grabbed the all-around title at the first home game. Throughout the season, Anna placed fifth in the all-around or higher in every competition. She helped UCLA to place fourth at the NCAA Championships. Anna then qualified to the event finals on balance beam and placed ninth place.

In 2008, Anna won five all-around titles, four floor titles, two beam titles, and seven bars titles. She also helped the UCLA team to win seven out of twelve competitions. Some other Anna's achievements during 2008 season was that she was Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week, Student-Athlete of the Week, and earned All-Pac 10 Honor in the all-around. Shortly before the 2009 season, Anna had surgery and was limited to bars. She won against Arizona. She competed on beam at a few meets. She won the uneven bars title at the Pac-10 Championships. She followed that up by winning Regionals. In 2010, Anna returned to all-around competition. She scored a perfect ten at both the Pac-10 Championships and NCAA Regional Championships to win uneven bars. She helped the team win both events. Anna then assisted the Bruins to their fifth NCAA National Title. Individually, she earned first-team All-American honors on vault and bars.

After training at AOGC in the fall of 2010 and early spring of 2011, Anna returned to elite competition with Legacy Elite in June of 2011. She won bars at the American Classic.

Fast Facts Name: Anna Li Birthday: September 4, 1988 Club: Legacy Elite College: UCLA Official Website UCLA

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full Scholarship to UCLA Three Time National Championship Qualifier 2005: Senior International Elite 2004: JO Nationals- 2nd AA 2003: JO Nationals- 1st BB

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Photos © Lloyd Smith