China authorities probe ‘national-level bullying’ of diving icon Quan Hongchan amid toxic fan culture

BEIJING (SCMP): Malicious and hateful online attacks on China’s diving queen Quan Hongchan, including one which likened her to a “pig”, will form part of a major investigation into an organised cyberbullying campaign against the Olympic athlete.

Other hurtful attacks said the gold medal winner “looks like a man” and even questioned her right to be a champion, saying she only won because “the judges were biased”.

Another online bully said Quan looked “countrified” while others called on her to “retire early”.

The wave of nasty online comments is said to have been on a “national level”.

Some bullies in the group also invented hurtful nicknames for Quan and some attacked her physical appearance.

What shocked the online community is the fact that some of Quan’s teammates are allegedly among the group’s 282 members.

Among those accused are a diving judge and a sports reporter.

It was reported that a Macau diver, who was invited into the group chat, discovered the abuse and quit the group. The diver was also mocked by the bullies as “Quan’s escort” as a result.

Online observers called for an investigation into what they called “national-level bullying”.

Some people are worried that the abuse might go beyond cyberspace and become more serious workplace bullying that might impact Quan’s career.

Quan, 19, gained overnight fame after winning her first Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 at the age of 14.

She then bagged home two Olympic golds in Paris in 2024, in the women’s 10-metre platform and the synchronised 10-metre platform together with Chen Yuxi.

Quan’s success was considered lucky by some because she would not have been old enough to compete in the Tokyo Olympics if it had not been postponed for a year.

In a recent viral interview, Quan confessed in tears that harsh comments related to puberty-related physical changes had led to intense anxiety over her weight.

She said she was “terrified” of scales, mirrors and camera lenses, and only ate one meal a day and “could not help it”.

She also pleaded with bullies to stop attacking her, her family and friends.

The Ersha Sports Training Centre’s statement said that they “firmly oppose all forms of cyberbullying and personal attacks, the toxic fan culture and resolutely support Quan Hongchan in safeguarding her rights through legal means.”

Quan and members of the group chat have not officially responded to the statements.

The authorities’ serious reaction has received widespread support.

Renowned Chinese sports commentator Han Qiaosheng said it was “heartbreaking” to see what Quan had been through.

“I support the authorities’ decision to call the police. The athletes fight for their country’s glory and should not be treated with malice.”

Taiwanese actor Lee Li-chun said he hoped “nothing but the best for Quan”, and added: “It is OK if she does not win another gold because she has already devoted her whole childhood to diving.”

Quan’s case has once again put the fan culture associated with Chinese sport in the spotlight.

In 2024, during the Paris Olympics, the phenomenon drew national attention when fans of table tennis player Sun Yingsha booed and showed the middle finger to her teammate Chen Meng when she defeated Sun in the women’s singles final.

In September that year, Beijing Online Public Opinion and Reporting Centre said it targeted sports fandom, and deleted 301,000 pieces of harmful content and removed over 4,600 accounts during the Paris Olympics.

According to the Chinese law, online abusers who violate a person’s right to personality and reputation might face administrative custody of five to 10 days and a fine of up to 500 yuan (US$70).

Errant chat group founders and managers are also legally responsible for the speech of group members.

Lawyer Yan Qing at the Beijing Yanjin Law Firm noted that some sports fans fabricate false information, defame athletes and manipulate online comments.

They not only breed online hostility, but also foster a grey industry that involves ranking manipulation and illegal transactions.

Yan said in serious cases, fans who engage in illegal activities might even face criminal charges. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

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