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Lars Hamer

Chinese social media users have dished out a huge backhanded compliment to Olympic champion Quan Hongchan, saying that despite her weight gain, she is still one of the best.
Quan has been trending on Weibo throughout the week, following her first gold medal at this year’s National Games, and on Wednesday, a hashtag praising her technique was viewed more than 10 million times.
However, some users also thought it necessary to highlight her weight while also applauding Sunday’s gold medal in the synchronised 10m platform event.
“A fat Ferrari is still a Ferrari,” one popular Weibo post said. “Quan Hongchan made a comeback at the National Games and won the championship again.”
One comment on that post, which received thousands of likes, said: “Although she’s gained weight, her technique is still top-notch, which is truly impressive. You can feel the impact of the increased weight on her; she has to put in even more effort.”

However, others were more sympathetic. “This is puberty, I’d say she is firm, not fat.”
This is not the first time that Quan’s weight has been called into question by diving fans.
Earlier this year, Quan withdrew from the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with an ankle injury. When she returned to training, social media users highlighted a video where she could not perform as many leg raises as her male counterpart as evidence that her physicality had declined.
Quan herself has addressed the issue. At the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Beijing in May, she said a recent growth spurt and changes in her body meant she needed time to adjust to the changes and perfect her dives.
The 18-year-old Quan has five world titles and two Asian Games golds. On Thursday, she is scheduled to make her only other competitive start of the Games in the synchronised 10m platform alongside Wang.
Should Quan manage to secure the title, she would tie the legendary Fu Mingxia with four National Games gold, while closing in on record holder Guo Jingjing, who has six to her name.
On Wednesday, another Olympic champion won gold in diving in Guangzhou.
Shandong’s Lian Junjie blew away the competition, amassing 1,005.10 points in the men’s individual all-round final. Second was four-time Olympic gold medallist, Beijing’s Cao Yuan, with 963.05.
Cui Zhangyu of Fujian was third with a score of 901.20.
“In the first half of the platform diving events, I led after the first two dives but made a significant error on the third, causing my rank to slip considerably,” Cao said. “By the end of the first half, I was placed fifth. Switching to the 3m springboard for the second half, I had to promptly adjust my form.”


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Sport

China

Hong Kong

Social media awash with comments on Quan Hongchan’s appearance as Olympian targets second gold of 15th National Games


Social media awash with comments on Quan Hongchan’s appearance as Olympian targets second gold of 15th National Games.


Quan Hongchan

Weibo

Chinese fans weigh in on Quan’s bulkier physique but say diving star ‘still a Ferrari’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Social media awash with comments on Quan Hongchan’s appearance as Olympian targets second gold of 15th National Games

Social media awash with comments on Quan Hongchan’s appearance as Olympian targets second gold of 15th National Games