Early years

Li began skating as a four-year-old in China, to escape the summer heat.^[4][2] After arriving in New Zealand at age eight, he joined the Allegro Ice Dance Club and Bess Cao became his coach.^[5][6] He trains at Paradice ice rinks in Botany and Avondale.^[3] Commenting on the sport, he said, "I love the feeling of weightlessness when I'm jumping on ice. I really enjoy the rush of wind when picking up speed."^[7]

2022–23 season

Li made his international debut in the SEA Open trophy in Singapore, where he finished second. He then made his ISU Junior Grand Prix debut at 2022 JGP Latvia, where he finished sixteenth. He went on to compete on the junior level at the 2022–23 New Zealand Championships, winning the gold medal. Selected to compete at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Li placed twenty-sixth in the short program and did not advance to the free skate segment of the competition.^[8]

2023–24 season

Li began the season by competing on the junior level of the 2023 Asian Open Trophy, taking the silver medal. Competing on the 2023–24 Junior Grand Prix series, Li took the bronze medal at the 2023 JGP Thailand with a score of 210.08, beating his previous personal best total score by almost sixty points. This was the first ever Junior Grand Prix medal won for New Zealand.^[8][4] He later finished in fifth place at 2023 JGP Japan three weeks later.^[8]

At the 2023–24 New Zealand Championships, Li won the junior national title for the second consecutive time.^[8]

In January 2024, Li competed in the men's singles event at the Winter Youth Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. He placed fourth in the short program, despite suffering a nosebleed midway through the program, which he said had "happened quite a few times before in training, so I just pushed on and finished my routine. It was actually pretty funny."^[9] In the free skate, he decided to attempt a triple Axel, and landed the jump, despite a step-out on the landing. Li said afterward that it "was the first time I'd ever done a triple Axel in competition and I was really pleased to stay on my feet."^[10] Although fourth in both segments, his total score was third highest, winning the bronze medal.^[11][12] He made history taking New Zealand's first Olympic medal in figure skating,^[10] and was one of four New Zealand athletes to win a medal at the 2024 Youth Olympics. After his medal success, he stated: "I was really proud of myself for being here and performing in front of such a big crowd."^[13] Li remarked as well that the "Youth Olympic Games used to be a dream. Now I can say it's reality. This is very special to me."^[11] Li finished the season at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Taipei, where he came twelfth.^[8]

Junior level