At just 25, Olympic bronze medalist Gong Li is gearing up for the 2025 Chengdu World Games in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in the southwest of the Chinese mainland. Fresh off a string of world titles and a remarkable injury comeback, she’s ready to write the next chapter of her karate journey.
Gong first stunned the world at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, securing bronze in the women’s 61kg category. She followed that up by claiming the world crown in Budapest at the 2023 World Karate Championships and capturing gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, on the eastern coast of the Chinese mainland.
But her road hasn’t been smooth. In 2024, Gong suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during the Asian Karate Championships in Hangzhou—an injury that can sideline athletes for months or even end careers. After surgery and intense rehabilitation, she bounced back stronger than ever.
“I believe the most essential quality for a karateka is a courageous heart,” Gong said in a recent interview. “Karate is truly a game for the brave. I’ve always been quite confident. I feel like I’m the best in the world. I’m invincible. Whether there’s one challenger or a whole group, I stand ready to fight.”
Though karate is no longer on the Olympic program, Gong’s passion for the sport remains undiminished. She’s determined to keep pushing boundaries and hopes to see karate make its way back to the Olympic Games one day.
As the World Games approach, Gong Li’s story of resilience and ambition offers a powerful reminder: with the right mindset, setbacks can become setups for even greater triumphs. The global stage awaits, and she’s ready to seize the moment.
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Olympic karate medalist Gong wants to have no regrets at World Games
cgtn.com
