Yi Siling was born in Guiyang County, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.[1][2] She joined Guangdong Province Shooting Team in 2007 after graduation from Zhuhai Sports School[3] and made her international debut in 2009.[1]
In 2009, Yi won silver at the Asian Championships in the 10m air rifle with a score of 502.9.[1] The next year, she won the event at the 2010 Asian Games with a score of 504.9.[1] Before the World Championships, she was diagnosed with kidney stones and had to undergo surgery. She made a full recovery and finished first at the World Championships with a score of 505.6.[1] In the process, she set a new world record and became the first person to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[4][5]
In 2011, Yi placed second at the Asian Championships in the 10 m air rifle with a score of 501.1. In 2012, she won the event with a score of 502.2.[1]
Yi entered the 2012 Olympics ranked number one in the world at the 10 m air rifle.[6] In Olympic competition she scored 399 out of a possible 400 in the preliminary round, tying for first place with Sylwia Bogacka. In the finals at the Royal Artillery Barracks, she turned in a score of 10+ on every shot, while Bogacka had a costly 9.7 on shot eight of ten.[6] Thus, Yi out shot Sylwia Bogacka 103.9 to 103.2 in the finals to win the first gold medal of the 2012 Summer Olympics with a total score of 502.9.[6] Of her victory, Yi commented "My stability help me a lot today and at the same time I think I'm quite lucky".[6]
Including her Olympic win, Yi has won ten medals and made the finals 13 times in 16 career events.[4] She planned to try to defend her gold at the next Olympics,[6] but at the 2016 Olympics, she was only able to take home the bronze, with a score of 185.4 in the final.[7]
Personal life
Yi attended Zhuhai Sports School in Zhuhai, China for her education in 2004 after her dropped out school because of financial problem. In Zhuhai Sports School, everything for students were almost free.[3] Before taking up shooting, she tried track and field and dancing.[1] She is nicknamed "Shooting Beauty" due to her good looks.[1]
After the 2012 Olympics, Yi said she planned to take a vacation and spend time with her family. "I have been away from home for more than a year and now I miss my family a lot," she said.[6]
Records
These records were made under the ISSR rules before its modification in 2013.
12 April 2002 22 April 2002 24 August 2002 4 June 2003 14 June 2003 13 February 2004 22 February 2004 22 April 2004 5 March 2005 11 April 2005 11 June 2005 4 October 2006 24 May 2008 9 August 2008 5 November 2008 1 August 2010