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Former gymnast Wu Liufang’s Douyin account has become a focal point of both controversy and support over the past two weeks. Following the lifting of a ban on Sunday, her account—previously restricted for violating community guidelines—saw a surge of over 3.5 million followers, pushing her total to more than 6.3 million.
Wu’s videos, featuring provocative dance routines, sparked criticism from Guan Chenchen, another former member of China’s women’s gymnastics team, who accused Wu of “crossing the line” and damaging the image of gymnastics.
The now-removed videos showed Wu dancing in outfits like short shorts, mini skirts, and stockings, garnering tens of thousands of likes on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Guan publicly condemned the content as “disrespectful.”
“Sister, if you want to post thirst trap [videos], do it on your own. [But] don’t stain gymnastics. Your ‘positive energy’ is not needed,” Guan commented on one of Wu’s posts.
In response, Wu, 29, accused Guan of having “sour grapes,” leading to a heated exchange in the comments section. Guan sarcastically praised Wu, saying: “Sister, you’re so amazing, I’m so envious. You’ve won so many medals, your records are great. I should learn from you.” Wu replied with a biting comment: “You’re even better! Just wait until you lose some weight—you’ll be able to wear nice clothes and look beautiful.”
The public spat led to a rapid increase in Wu’s follower count, which jumped from 55,000 to over 2,500,000.
On November 24, her account was penalized for violating community guidelines, reducing the number of visible videos from 57 to 7 and partially restricting her ability to gain new followers.
In a recent livestream, Wu reflected on her career and current challenges, saying: “My family’s financial situation hasn’t been great, but I dedicated my youth to gymnastics. I didn’t achieve the best results or become an Olympic champion. Now, I have to rely on myself.”
Born in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in 1994, Wu enjoyed a successful gymnastics career, earning gold medals in the balance beam and floor exercise at the 2010 Doha World Cup, and another balance beam gold at the 2010 France World Cup. In 2011, she added a balance beam gold at the Ghent World Cup, along with several silver and bronze medals in uneven bars and floor exercise.
However, her Olympic dreams were cut short by an injury during the 2012 London Games qualifiers, leading to her retirement in 2013. Wu later pursued studies at Beijing Sport University, graduating in 2014.
After trying various careers, including teaching and coaching gymnastics, she eventually transitioned to livestreaming in Hangzhou, a move that has sparked widespread debate over how retired athletes should sustain themselves.
Supporters argue that Wu has every right to live on her own terms, with comments like, “Support the beautiful and kind sister,” “Live your life and ignore the criticism,” and “Retired athletes need to make a living too.”
Critics, however, contend that her actions have tarnished gymnastics’ image, with some expressing disapproval: “I understand she’s seeking attention to earn income, but linking gymnastics and the national team to this is unacceptable.”
Source: South China Morning Post and Shanghai Daily
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