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Stephy Zhang

Olympic diving champion Zhang Jiaqi has hit back at critics who have labelled her career shift to live streaming as “the fall of a genius”, asserting that financial independence is the ultimate freedom for women.
The 21-year-old retired in November after finishing 10th in the National Games 10m platform final, marking the end of a 15-year career and the start of a new life chapter.
Her live stream e-commerce debut a week later sparked an online backlash, with internet trolls accusing her of “forgetting her roots” and being “eager for quick money” after what they viewed as a hesitant performance.
“After retiring, I have to face the situation of finding a new job,” Zhang said at a recent women’s event featuring speakers from different backgrounds, adding that negative remarks would not affect her as she was earning her own living.
“Those comments are shackles others put on me,” said Zhang, who sells products ranging from sunscreen and skincare to pyjamas and plush toys. “I have done nothing wrong; why should I deny myself because of others’ misconceptions?

“For any woman, economic freedom is the greatest freedom.”
The transition out of sport involved significant self-doubt, as Zhang initially wondered why she “only knew how to dive”.
However, she has since regained her confidence, declaring herself an “outstanding athlete who gave everything I could and fulfilled some of my ambitions on the platform”.
“I have a clear conscience,” she said.
Wishing to avoid the conventional trajectory of coaching or administrative roles, Zhang turned to variety shows and live streaming to support herself.
The women’s synchronised 10m platform champion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Zhang acknowledged her initial anxiety in front of the camera but said that “no matter how difficult these things are, they’re not harder than diving”.
Life as an ordinary citizen remains a challenge: Zhang is relearning basic tasks previously managed by her sports team, such as applying for documents, selecting university courses and booking tickets.

She shyly conceded that those trivial daily chores were a “brand new adventure”, and part of stepping into wider society for the first time.
Having become an Olympic champion at 14, Zhang said she naively believed her triumphant streak would never end.
“I felt I would keep winning like this in the future,” she said.
That confidence was tested by puberty, forcing her to battle physical growth with strict dieting.
“Now, after leaving the [diving] platform, I am once again pushing myself,” Zhang said.

“I want to be an independent person, an independent woman. I want to decide my own life, like every ordinary girl working hard to be a more complete, independent and rich personality to earn my own money. This is my new ambition for the future.”
In mainland China, the topic of athletes’ lives after competition and their career transitions is commonly discussed. Retired speed skating champion Wu Dajing voiced support for Zhang, noting that her need to earn a living was immediately relatable.
“When she said, ‘I also have to live’, that one sentence instantly made people understand,” said Wu, who is currently a coach and professor at Jilin University, and who described retirement as a “new beginning” where experimentation was essential.


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Zhang Jiaqi (left) won the synchronised 10m platform diving with Chen Yuxi at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Photo: Xinhua

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Zhang Jiaqi introducing herself at a women’s forum last weekend. Photo: Handout

Zhang Jiaqi won the 10m platform final at the 2018 World Cup in Wuhan. Photo: Getty Images

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Sport

China

Retired diver’s live stream e-commerce venture is met with criticism, but she says gaining ‘economic freedom’ would be ‘the greatest freedom’


Retired diver’s live stream e-commerce venture is met with criticism, but she says gaining ‘economic freedom’ would be ‘the greatest freedom’.


E-commerce

Olympic diving champion Zhang Jiaqi defends career switch, says she has to ‘find new job’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Retired diver’s live stream e-commerce venture is met with criticism, but she says gaining ‘economic freedom’ would be ‘the greatest freedom’

Retired diver’s live stream e-commerce venture is met with criticism, but she says gaining ‘economic freedom’ would be ‘the greatest freedom’