Deng Linlin

Deng Linlin 2009

Deng Linlin (born April 21, 1992 in Fuyang , Anhui ) is a Chinese gymnast . Her greatest achievement is winning the gold medal on the balance beam at the 2012 Olympic Games in London . She had previously won gold with the team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing .

Deng Linlin first took part in international gymnastics competitions in 2008. At the World Cup in Doha she was able to take first place in floor exercise and second on the balance beam. In Moscow, Deng was able to achieve first place on both devices. In the national championships of the People's Republic of China in 2008, Deng Linlin reached third place in the all-around behind Jiang Yuyuan and Yang Yilin . She finished fourth in the jump . Deng was on the Chinese squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In the team competition , in which she competed on the balance beam, she was able to win the gold medal. In the run-up to the Olympics, Deng Linlin's age was controversial. Gymnasts with the minimum age of 16 years were allowed to start, which was proven for Deng with the passport. However, the correctness of the documents was questioned and indications of a younger age were given. For the association that granted the start authorization, however, the official documents were decisive.

In 2009 Deng Linlin became world champion on the balance beam in London. Three years later, she also won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics on this device .