People expressed sympathy and rallied behind Wu Liufang after learning about her personal struggles. -- Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Weibo
BEIJING: Former Chinese gymnast and world champion Wu Liufang gained 3.5 million followers in a single day after her social media account was reinstated following a brief suspension due to provocative dance clips that sparked significant online backlash.
Wu, 30, born in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in southern China, was once a member of the Chinese Women’s Gymnastics Team and celebrated as the “balance beam princess” for her multiple world championship victories on the balance beam.
However, her career took a tragic turn during the Olympic trials in May 2012 when she suffered a neck injury from a fall, preventing her from competing in the London Olympics and abruptly ending her gymnastics career.
After retiring, Wu enrolled at Beijing Sport University in 2014. Following her graduation, she explored various jobs to make a living, including teaching and coaching gymnastics at a sports school, before settling in Hangzhou to pursue live-streaming.
Wu Liufang, above, competed on the uneven bars during qualifying rounds at the 11th National Games on September 15, 2009. -- Photo: Xinhua
While working as a teacher, she encountered issues with unpaid wages. When she accepted a coaching position at a sports school in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, the promised tenure was not honoured as it was given to others.
In 2019, she began live-streaming in Hangzhou, where she earned a modest base salary of only 3,000 yuan (US$400) for streaming six hours a day.
Wu once shared: “My family wasn’t well-off, and I devoted all my youth to gymnastics. But I didn’t reach the pinnacle – an Olympic championship. I had to rely on myself.”
However, Wu’s journey to internet fame has not been without challenges.
Recently, she faced criticism for her provocative dancing, where she wore short shorts, mini skirts, and stockings in her Douyin clips, attracting both significant attention and a large following.
The situation escalated on November 22 when Olympic gymnastics champion Guan Chenchen publicly rebuked Wu, stating: “Sister, if you want to post thirst trap videos, do it on your own, but don’t tarnish gymnastics. Your ‘positive energy’ is not needed.”
Wu’s social media account was briefly suspended after she posted a series of sexy dance clips online last month. -- Photo: Douyin
Thirst traps refer to posting of sexy selfies to gain online attention and traffic.
Wu quickly retaliated by accusing Guan of “sour grapes”, leading to an exchange of sarcastic comments between the two.
In a later interview, Guan elaborated on her concerns regarding Wu’s provocative videos: “How would parents who send their kids to gymnastics feel? Would they think there’s no future? What about the kids currently training in gymnastics? Would they wonder if they’ll end up like her after retiring?”
Wu later issued an apology during a live-stream, explaining that she had always been introverted but hoped her dancing brought joy to others.
However, on November 24, her account was suspended for violating the platform’s “community regulations”.
Supporters rallied around Wu.
Zhao Hejuan, founder and CEO of TMTPost, defended Wu, stating: “Allowing individuals to have equal and lawful opportunities to make a living is the greatest dignity society can provide. Wu’s expression of her gymnastics skills alongside her charm simply reflects her personal career aspirations.”
On December 1, Wu’s social media account was reinstated, and she gained 3.55 million followers in just one day, bringing her total follower count to 6.3 million at the time of writing.
Wu’s candid revelation about her post-retirement struggles due to injuries earned her immense sympathy and support. -- Photo: Douyin/Wu Liufang
Her story has resonated online, with many admiring her as a symbol of resilience.
One supporter remarked: “Despite being only 1.54 metres tall, Wu left home at 24 to pursue a teaching career, where she was unpaid, and later took a coaching role with a promise of tenure that never materialised.
“Ultimately, she turned to live-streaming to make ends meet. Her story is inspiring. The criticism she faced reflects double standards and a lack of understanding from those in more privileged positions.”
Others highlighted her dedication to public service: “Even when her salary was just over 2,000 yuan (US$280), she volunteered to help children with disabilities improve their balance and coordination.
"People in the charity community have praised her patience and sense of responsibility. Being a champion should be an honour, not a burden.” - The Straits Times/ANN
