Li Ling (Pole Vaulter)

Tall and slender, she stands 6'1" with a slim build and natural curves, her black hair framing a focused face. This is Li Ling, a Chinese pole vaulter born on 6 July 1989 in Puyang, Henan. She has been active since 2005, starting at age 15, and now has 21 years of experience in the sport.

Li's career includes competing at the 2006 World Junior Championships, though she no-heighted in the final. In 2008, she set both indoor and outdoor personal bests of 4.45 metres, first in Beijing and then in Hangzhou. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, her qualifying mark of 4.15 m did not advance her to the final. The following year, at the 2009 World Championships, her season's best of 4.40 m fell ten centimetres short of making the final.

Her breakthrough came at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games, where she matched her personal best to win gold. That vault was just one centimetre off Zhang Yingning's Asian record. Later, on September 8, 2013, she set a new Asian record of 4.65 m at the Chinese National Games in Shenyang. This achievement remains a career highlight, solidifying her place among Asia's top pole vaulters.

Beyond competition, Li's journey from a young athlete to a record-holder illustrates her dedication to the sport. She continues to train and compete, representing her country on the international stage. Her story is one of persistence, marked by incremental improvements and a breakthrough at the highest level.