An Auckland teen is set to make New Zealand Olympic history at next year's Winter Youth Games as the first New Zealand ice figure skater to be selected for sport's biggest stage.
Yanhao (Dwayne) Li has been named in the New Zealand Team for the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, competing in the individual men’s event.
"I’m really happy to get the opportunity to represent New Zealand," the 15-year-old said. “I’m hoping to perform to the best of my ability and showcase all I’ve been training hard for.”
Li was born in Beijing, China, where he began skating aged four before his family moved to New Zealand when he was eight. He now splits his time between school at Macleans College and the Paradice Ice Skating, where he spends more than 12 hours a week on ice.
“I love the feeling of weightlessness when I’m jumping on ice. I really enjoy rush of wind when picking up speed," Li said.
“This sport has given me a lot of opportunities to travel the world, which I love. I’d like to thank my coach, parents, skating rink, and New Zealand Ice Figure Skating for all the work they’ve done to help get me to this point.”
Li recently became the first New Zealander to win an international figure skating medal, taking bronze at the Junior Grand Prix in Bangkok in August 2023.
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicol congratulated Li for making history.
"We’re really pleased to have Dwayne named to our team and are looking forward to seeing him on the ice in January and February next year," said Nicol.
"Dwayne is an inspiration to New Zealand’s figure skating community and his selection is a testament to his hard work and dedication."
New Zealand is expected to be represented by around 20 athletes at Gangwon, with athletes working towards selection in biathlon and luge. Twelve snow sports athletes and four curlers have already been named in the team.
The Games will run from January 19 to February 1 and will welcome almost 2000 young athletes aged between 14 and 18 years old from around the world to compete in seven sports, 15 disciplines and 81 events.
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