Tao Li

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Tao Li

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imagesize =
caption =
fullname =
nicknames =
nationality = Singaporean
strokes = Backstroke, butterfly stroke
club = Swimfast Aquatic Club
collegeteam = Singapore Sports School
birthdate = birth date and age|1990|1|10|df=yes
birthplace = Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = convert|1.60|m|ftin|abbr=oncitation|author=Rohit Brijnath|title=Maybe, just maybe|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=11 August 2008|page=B13.]
weight = convert|58|kg|lb|abbr=on (2006)citation|title=Athletes: Profile: TAO Li|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061210034828/http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/SPORTS/CO/IGCOParticipantInfo.aspx?Register=5857036|publisher=15th Asian Games, Doha 2006, Doha Asian Games Organising Committee|date=December 2006|accessdate=2008-08-12.]
medaltemplates =

Tao Li (Chinese: 陶李, Pinyin: Táo Lǐ; born 10 January 1990) is a China-born Singaporean competitive swimmer specializing in the backstroke and butterfly stroke.

A Singapore Sports School student, Tao has represented Singapore at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and Asian Games and holds several national records. She won four gold medals and a bronze at the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines, and reached the finals of the women's 50 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres butterfly events at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne though she did not gain any medals. In December 2006, Tao took a gold medal at the 50 metres butterfly in Doha's 2006 Asian Games, beating China's multi-gold medallist Xu Yanwei and breaking her own national record in the process. She became Singapore's most medalled athlete at the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand, winning four gold medals. Earlier in the year, she also became the first Singaporean female swimmer to reach a FINA World Aquatics Championships final, finishing seventh in the 50 metres butterfly.

Tao made her Olympic début for Singapore at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She qualified for the 100 metres finals, ranking fourth in the semifinals with a time of 57.54 seconds and setting two Asian records in two days. She thus became the first Singaporean swimmer to enter an Olympic final. She emerged fifth at the women's 100 metres butterfly finals with a time of 57.99 seconds.

Early life and education

Tao Li was born on 10 January 1990citation|title=Biography: Tao Li|url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=107668|publisher=Melbourne 2006, XVIII Commonwealth Games|date=March 2006|accessdate=2008-08-11.] in Wuhan, Hubei,citation|author=Tao Li|title=She aims to make a big splash|newspaper=The Straits Times (Home)|date=6 October 2008|page=B9.] in the People's Republic of China,citation|title=Asian Games: Singapore's Tao Li wins women's 50m butterfly gold medal|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061209072320/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/245982/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=8 December 2006|accessdate=2006-12-08.] the only child of Tao Ran and his wife Li Yan, who were both former provincial swimmers and are now swimming coaches.citation|author=Lim Han Ming|title='Sacrifices were worth it'|url=http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=1340599196&page_url=%2f%2fnewpaper.asia1.com.sg%2fsports%2fstory%2f0%2c4136%2c98231%2c00.html%3f&page_last_updated=12%2f2%2f2005+9%3a37%3a33+AM&firstName=Tao&lastName=Li|newspaper=The Electric New Paper|date=2 December 2005|accessdate=2008-10-07.] Her early years were spent in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. She started swimming at the age of five, and had started competitive swimming by the time she was ten. In her first contest she won two gold medals and broke two age records. On one occasion at a particular local meet that she was confident of winning, she had her parents attend. However, she lost and was so upset and worried about "losing face" that she asked her parents not to come for future competitions. While she has now overcome that fear, her parents still keep to the "tradition" of not attending her meets in order not to distract her. In 2002, at the age of 13 years, Tao was brought to Singapore by her mother.citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Swimmer's first words to mum: I want a medal|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=11 August 2008.] It was difficult for her parents to decide to send her to Singapore, and her father was initially against the idea as at the time she was training with a provincial swimming team and earning a monthly salary of RNB500. There was a good chance she might do well enough to join the Chinese national team. As her English was not good, she joined a Primary 5 class in Queenstown Primary School. Tao became a Singapore citizen in August 2005.

Tao is a Secondary 3 student at the Singapore Sports School in 2008, and is expected to continue her education there until she graduates with a diploma in sports science under an arrangement between the school and the Auckland University of Technology.citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=A million-dollar makeover for Tao Li|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270770.asp|newspaper=Today|date=14 August 2008|page=54.] She trains under the school's swimming coach Peter Churchill. Previously at the Aquatic Performance Swim Club under former Olympian Ang Peng Siong from 2001, following what was reported to be a contract dispute she started training in October 2006 with another former Olympian, David Lim, at Swimfast Aquatic Club. [citation|author=Lin Xinyi|title=Club dispute threatens to derail Tao Li: Swimmer's Olympic hopes in jeopardy after she insists on representing new club|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_244172.html|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=4 June 2008; citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=Tao Li keyed to peak: Ang's former star pupil has pulled out all the stops to be ready for Beijing|url=http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/Uploads/News%20And%20Events/NAE1/Aug2008/TaoLikeyed2peak_010807.pdf|newspaper=Today (reproduced at the Singapore Sports School website)|date=1 August 2008.]

Career as national swimmer

Tao has represented Singapore at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and Asian Games. Following her success at the 1st Hong Kong Open Invitational Championships in 2005 at which she won four gold medals and was named most outstanding female swimmer, [citation|author=Jean Malanum|title=Yeo: Still queen of the pool: Set to duplicate 6-gold haul in '03|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2005/12/03/SPRT2005120350781.html|newspaper=Manila Bulletin|date=3 December 2005.] at the 23rd SEA Games held in the Philippines later that year, she won golds for the 100 metres backstroke, 200 metres butterfly, and 4 x 100 metres medley relay with teammates Ho Shu Yong, Nicolette Teo and Joscelin Yeo.

In March the following year, she won gold in the 50 metres butterfly at the [http://www.asiaswimchamps.org Milo Asia Swimming Championships] in Singapore, the Republic's first top award at the competition.citation|author=Nicholas Tang|title=Tao Li bags S'pore's 1st gold in Asia meet|url=http://www.asiaswimchamps.org/WorkingFiles/07-03-06/Straits%20Times,%207%20Mar%2006.jpg|newspaper=|date=11 August 2008|accessdate=2008-08-11.]

Tao became the first Singaporean female swimmer to reach a FINA World Aquatics Championships final. The 2007 World Aquatics Championships were held in Melbourne from 17 March to 1 April 2007, and she finished seventh in the website)|date=9 June 2007|page=36.]

In January 2008, Tao became embroiled in controversy after the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) introduced a 15% levy on the cash awards given to swimmers, with about 6% set aside for youth development. As part of the government's Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP), she received S$23,750 for winning three individual titles and one team gold at the 2007 SEA Games. She was therefore "taxed" S$3,562.50, with S$1,425 going to youth development. Unhappy with this, Tao said: "If they [the SSA] want to cultivate youth, they should find their own money, not pay using our awards. It's through our hard work that we got the money. So, I don't see the point that we should give the money to the youths." She also said it had been her school and not the SSA which had borne the expense of her overseas training. The SSA said it was "very disappointed" with her comments, and pointed out that the association had spent "easily in excess of $20,000" in sending her for competitions abroad such as the World Championships, Hong Kong Open and Japan International, and a stint at the Australian Institute of Sport. SSA Vice-President Oon Jin Gee told the press, "Even with the Sports School funding it, it's our taxpayers' dollars going into her development. It doesn't matter which avenue it comes from, it's still Singapore's support for her." [citation|title=Tao Li sore over paying for youths|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20080130-47436.html|newspaper=The Straits Times (reproduced at AsiaOne)|date=30 January 2008. See also citation|author=Wong Meng Meng|title=Tao Li taken to task over comments: They slam her reluctance to donate 6% of her earnings to youth|url=http://www.sportingsingapore.com/ttd_bizenterprise/Singlenews.aspx?DirID=53&rec_code=130142|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=4 February 2008.]

2008 Summer Olympics

Tao made her Olympic début for Singapore at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, arriving ranked 26th out of 49 butterfly swimmers.citation|author=Marc Lim|title=I guess I did fantastic: Tao Li's initial disappointment at not winning an Olympic medal is replaced by her trademark grin|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=12 August 2008|page=B11. See also citation|author=Marc Lim|title=No medal, but we're so proud of you, Tao Li|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=12 August 2008|page=1.] On 9 August, the second day of the swimming competition, she qualified for the semifinals of the 100 metres butterfly as fourth fastest in her heat with a personal best time of 57.77 seconds. The following day she made it to the finals, shaving off 0.23 seconds for another personal best time and new Asian record of 57.54 seconds. She came fourth behind her role model, Australian swimmer Lisbeth Trickett, and the USA's Christine Magnuson and Australia's Jessicah Schipper.citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=Now for the perfect race|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270064.asp|newspaper=Today|date=11 August 2008|page=28.] [citation|author=Dominique Loh|title=Olympics: Singapore swimmer Tao Li qualifies for 100m butterfly final|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/366419/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=10 August 2008.] She thus set two Asian records and the national record for the event,citation|title=Asian nations come good in Beijing|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5itnKRB1s0ISc0_Xn3AxGpXGuB75A|publisher=Agence France-Presse (AFP)|date=11 August 2008. Tao's first Asian record of 57.77 seconds was broken minutes later by Chinese swimmer Zhou Yafei who qualified for the semifinals with a time of 57.70 seconds: citation|author=Rohit Brijnath|title=Record-breakers|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=10 August 2008|page=40; citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=A million-dollar makeover for Tao Li|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270770.asp|newspaper=Today|date=14 August 2008|page=54. However, Tao regained the Asian record with her semifinal time of 57.54 seconds: citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=No podium finish, no sweat: Tao Li's schoolmates couldn't be prouder of her Olympic feat|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270296.asp|newspaper=Today|date=12 August 2008|page=32.] and became the eighth fastest butterfly swimmer in the world and first Singaporean swimmer to enter an Olympic final. On 11 August, she came fifth at the 100 metres butterfly finals with a time of 57.99 seconds. The top three spots were taken by Trickett (56.73 seconds), Magnuson (57.10 seconds) and Schipper (57.25 seconds).citation|title=S'pore's Tao Li 'not disappointed' with timing in 100m fly finals|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Beijing-2008/Team%2BSingapore/Story/STIStory_266843.html|publisher=The Straits Times Digital|date=11 August 2008|accessdate=2008-08-11.] [citation|title=Olympics: Singapore swimmer Tao Li 5th in 100m butterfly finals|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/366665/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=11 August 2008.] Asked by "The Straits Times" about her performance, Tao said, "If I have given another personal best, it would not have gotten me a medal. The top three winners were just too good. I wanted to do my best and I pushed all the way and hoped for the best." Given Tao's age compared to those of the medallists, there are hopes that she will be able to improve her performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. [citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=Tao Li, a girl among giants: When the youngest competitor in the Olympic final finishes fifth, there's little reason to complain|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270293.asp|newspaper=Today|date=12 August 2008.]

On 12 August, Tao swam in the second heat of the 200 metres butterfly. She finished fifth (26th in a field of 34) and thus did not proceed to the quarter-finals, but her time of 2 minutes 12.63 seconds was a new national record.citation|title=Results: Women's 200m Butterfly – Heat 2|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/SW/C73A1/SWW022902.shtml#SWW022902|publisher=, Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad|date=12 August 2008|accessdate=2008-08-12; citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Another record for Tao Li|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=13 August 2008|page=B10; citation|author=Low Lin Phoong|title=Tao Li sets 200m butterfly national record|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270550.asp|newspaper=Today|date=13 August 2008|page=36.] Discussions have begun regarding plans for her future development. The Singapore Sports Council's high performance chief Wayde Clews has said: "Money will not be a prohibitive factor in providing the support and necessary resources for Tao Li to reach her full potential ... with the 2012 Olympics as the target." As Tao needs to gain more high-level competing experience, there is also the issue of whether she should continue training in Singapore or head overseas, particularly to Australia or the US. [citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Tao Li: Stay or go?|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=14 August 2008|page=B10.]

Medals

The above information was obtained from citation|title=Singapore national records (long-course metres)|url=http://www.swimming.org.sg/swmrecords_GirlsUnder17.html|publisher=Singapore Swimming Association|date=6 June 2008|accessdate=2008-08-11.

ee also

*Singapore at the 2008 Summer Olympics
*Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Notes

References

*citation|title=Biography: Tao Li|url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=107668|publisher=Melbourne 2006, XVIII Commonwealth Games|date=March 2006|accessdate=2008-08-11.
*citation|title=Athletes: Profile: TAO Li|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061210034828/http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/SPORTS/CO/IGCOParticipantInfo.aspx?Register=5857036|publisher=15th Asian Games, Doha 2006, Doha Asian Games Organising Committee|date=December 2006|accessdate=2008-08-12.

Further reading

*citation|last=Fang|first=Nicholas|title=No grunts, only giggles: Getting to know this young athlete – away from the swimming pool|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/279492.asp|newspaper=Weekend Today|date=4 October 2008|pages=8, 10 (archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5bL2EiGI0).

External links

* [http://www.snoc.org.sg Official website of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC)]
** [http://www.snoc.org.sg/p_tao_li.php Tao Li at the SNOC website]
* [http://www.swimming.org.sg Official website of the Singapore Swimming Association]
* [http://www.teamsingapore.com.sg Official website of Team Singapore, managed by the Singapore Sports Council]
** [http://www.teamsingapore.com.sg/publish/teamsingapore/en/games/Olympics/Beijing2008/beijing_2008/our_athletes.detail.html?athleteID=1622 Tao Li at the Team Singapore website]

Persondata
NAME = Tao Li
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Singaporean Olympic competitive swimmer
DATE OF BIRTH = 10 January 1990
PLACE OF BIRTH = Hubei, People's Republic of China
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =