Olympic champion Li Xuerui: Retires to marry her junior teammate, becomes an associate professor at a university, and looks more stunning than ever at 31!
In the world of sports, talent plays a crucial role. As a sporting powerhouse, China consistently fields athletes who are nothing short of geniuses—athletes who proudly represent their country on the global stage. Take, for instance, the Chinese badminton team, which boasts incredible strength and has produced legendary players such as Lin Dan, Chen Long, Zhang Ning, Gong Zhichao, and Zhang Nan, all of whom have earned widespread fame and admiration.
There’s also an underrated athlete—Li Xuerui, who, at the peak of her career, delivered outstanding performances in major international competitions, repeatedly bringing glory to her country. Now retired, she’s married a younger teammate and is working as an associate professor at a university—looking more radiant than ever at 31 years old.
Li Xuerui was born in Chongqing. As a post-90s young woman, she began training in badminton at a sports school at the age of 7. Passionate about the sport, she would head straight to the gym as soon as class ended—thanks to her dedication, she quickly improved and soon became a member of the city’s elite team.
After winning the National Junior Championships for three consecutive years, Li Xuerui advanced steadily—from the National Junior Team to the National Youth Team and finally to the national squad, completing a remarkable "triple jump" in her career. Since then, she has emerged as a rising star on the global stage, clinching the women’s singles title at the Asian Championships at just 19 years old—a performance that showcased her exceptional talent and potential.
In 2011, Li Xuerui wasn’t selected for the Olympic roster, but afterward, she went on a stunning 30-match winning streak—culminating in the national team deciding to replace Wang Shixian with Li Xuerui for the Games.
In her prime, she dominated the London Olympics, ultimately defeating Wang Yihan in the final to clinch the Olympic women's singles gold medal, solidifying her status as a true powerhouse. In 2013, she once again claimed the women's singles title at the BWF Super Series, and in 2014, she added another feather to her cap by winning the Uber Cup women's singles gold—evidence of her undeniable dominance on the court.
After that, she went on to win gold medals at prestigious stages such as the Sudirman Cup, Super Series events, Open tournaments, and Masters competitions, firmly establishing herself as the world's top women's singles player during that era. By 2016, she once again reached the Olympic women's singles semifinals—but unfortunately had to withdraw from the match due to a torn ligament.
After a long period of recovery, Li Xuerui returned to the court and went on to win several major tournament titles. However, as she grew older, she made the decision to retire in 2019, bringing her illustrious career to an end.
After retiring, Li Xuerui successfully made a stunning career transition—she went on to teach at a university. Today, she’s already an associate professor at the School of Physical Education at Chongqing University, and she’s thriving in her role as a teacher.
In addition, Li Xuerui enjoys widespread fame, which often leads to her being invited to participate in various sports events—whether as a guest or as a commentator, she consistently excels in her roles. As an Olympic champion, she also has numerous endorsement deals, enabling her to achieve financial independence.
In her personal life, Li Xuerui is equally fortunate—she boasts a stunning 1.74-meter height with long, elegant legs, all while being incredibly talented. She’s now in a relationship with her junior teammate, Qiao Bin, another accomplished badminton player known for his strong skills, having even clinched the men’s singles title at a Super Series event in the past.
Qiao Bin boasts a handsome appearance and stands a towering 1.8 meters tall—truly a perfect match for Li Xuerui. The two tied the knot in 2019 and were blessed with the joy of motherhood last year. Today, Li Xuerui enjoys a blissful family life and a thriving career, and at 31, she’s only getting more radiant—truly a winner in every sense of the word.
