体坛英语新闻：Chinese gymnast Li Xiaopeng to be inducted into IGHOF Hall of Fame

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Five gymnastics legends, including China's Li Xiaopeng, will be honored at the 23rd annual International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (IGHOF) ceremony on May 18, 2019, at the Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City.

Li is a 5-time Olympic medalist and 11-time World Championship medalist. One of China's greatest gymnasts, the 38-year-old holds four Olympic gold medals and 16 world titles.

The other three inductees are Shawn Johnson of the United States, Russia's Maria Filatova, and Ivan Ivankov of Belarus.

In addition, the 2019 IGHOF International Order of Merit will be presented to Canada's Hardy Fink, Director of Education & Academy Programs for the International Gymnastics Federation, for his 40 years of leadership and service.

Founded in 1987, the IGHOF is the only International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in existence endorsed by the FIG. Over the past 22 years, 99 of gymnastics' greatest stars and contributors have been formally inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"The goal of the IGHOF board of directors is to preserve the legacies of these gymnastics icons and inspire future generations." said Bart Conner, chairman of the IGHOF board.