With his giggly personality and braces on his teeth he doesn't have a forbidding presence - but Li Xiaopeng does shock people.

At the Cottbus gymnastics World Cup earlier this month, Li, who has been out of the game for two years due to ankle and toe injuries, announced his comeback with a great performance.

Not only did he win a gold medal in the parallel bars, setting a record-breaking 16.250 points, he also took bronze on the horizontal bar

It was a timely response to the media and fans who were about to write the 27 year old off as an Olympic contender.

I was quite satisfied with my performance," Li said. "I never considered giving up on the Olympics though I've been out for quite a long time. I just tried to work as hard as I could when I competed. Everything paid off for me.

"I prepared well this time for Germany and regained fitness. Most importantly, I found my confidence again."

Li, who won two gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, in the men's parallel bars and team event, hasn't taken part in any international competitions since undergoing ankle surgery in 2005.

His absence hasn't affected China's dominance in the sport, however, as the team won the title at the World Championships in Denmark last year, while a number of young stars have taken the spotlight and look set to steal Li's place.

But after his recent performance they may have to think again.

"He had a great test," said national team head coach Huang Yubin. "He successfully introduced some new movements in the parallel bars and horizontal bar, I was kind of surprised."

Li will look to continue his sizzling form at another World Cup stop in Tianjin next month. Also in the squad for Tianjin are former Olympic and world all-around champion Yang Wei and world pommel horse champion Xiao Qin.

Despite Li's high-profile return, Huang said he was not a sure bet for the Olympic line-up.

"We have Olympic trials and other competitions to decide the final Olympic squad," Huang said. "There is healthy competition between the athletes in the team, I want to keep everybody motivated until the last second."