Mihgzhu Li, former coach of Chinese champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Lu Chen, is returning to China after coaching in the United States for many years.
Currently teaching at East West Ice Palace in Artesia, CA, Li has accepted a two year contract with the Chinese Skating Federation to help develop the Chinese 2014 Olympic team. The contract is renewable for an additional two years, so Li could be relocated in China for the next four years. Negotiations for this position have been on going for the past year.
Li's skaters, including Caroline Zhang, have begun making the move to other coaches. Zhang recently announced she was moving to Tammy Gambill. Other students have, or are considering, moves to other coaches at East West which include, among others, Alex Chang, Peter Oppergard and Karen Kwan-Oppergard.
Li leaves for China on Wednesday, July 14, but has told her skaters she will be returning to the U.S. periodically.