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SCMP Sport

Chinese diving starlet Quan Hongchan has again split opinion on social media, this time by posting an emotional update about her sick mother’s return to hospital.
In releasing a limited-time live-story update on her official Douyin account, Quan posted a photo of her mother lying in bed in hospital. The picture, which shows Quan holding Feng Lingmei’s hand, comes with the touching caption “Love you, mum”.
Her father, Quan Wenmao, who is a farmer, also shared details about his wife’s time being treated for what local media said was a relapse of lupus erythematosus, a chronic auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs.
The posts sparked widespread concern and well-wishes for the mother’s condition, and for the way Quan, who was just 14 when she won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021, has handled her family’s troubles.
“She has endured so much at such a young age,” one Weibo comment read.

Another read: “I hope she stays strong and ignores the rumours online. Winning at the Olympics at such a young age already shows she’s put in twice the effort of her peers.
“Whatever happens in the future, I wish her peace and happiness.”
But Quan, who has won three Olympic gold medals over the Tokyo and Paris Games, has also been the target of criticism online after a growth spurt changed her physique and affected her diving.
Alongside several mean posts, some commentators questioned why the teenager would attract attention to herself and her family after complaining about cyberbullying.
“On the one hand, she tells people not to pay too much attention, but on the other hand, she likes to post their family’s private information. How contradictory that was,” one online user wrote.
Feng, who has been unable to work since a car accident several years ago, reportedly hid her condition from her daughter while Quan was preparing for Tokyo.
During the China national team’s selection process, Quan mentioned her mum’s sickness, and said her family didn’t tell her, revealing “I only found out when I called my dad”.
“He told me not to worry too much, but my mother’s treatment costs a lot of money, so I feel that I also need to earn money to send home to pay for her treatment,” Quan said at the time.

After winning the women’s 10-metre platform gold at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Quan was again quoted as saying: “My mother is sick, and I want to earn a lot of money to treat her and cure her.”
Following her rise to stardom, Quan used her prize money to improve her family’s living conditions, built a house in her hometown and sent money home every month to supplement their income.
Social media users had called it “a pure inheritance from childhood vows to adult filial piety”.


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Olympic champion Quan Hongchan’s emotional post over mum’s health woes divides internet

China’s Quan Hongchan has been the target of criticism online after a growth spurt changed her physique and affected her diving, resulting in an investigation by sports authorities.  Photo: YouTube

A screen-capture of Quan Hongchan’s limited-time live-story update on her official Douyin account. Photo: Handout

Quan Hongchan won the 10m platform event in Tokyo at age 14 while her mother was unwell. Photo: Reuters

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China’s Wu Yize has a very good attacking game that puts his opponents “on edge”, Django Fung says. Photo: Xinhua

Django Fung (left) manages world No 2 Neil Robertson, among others. Photo: Handout

Django Fung (right) says Wu Yize was better than Judd Trump (left) at age 21. Photo: Handout

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Four-time Olympic gold medallist Wang Meng featured in Sisters Who Make Waves 2026, a talent competition centered on the comeback of female celebrities over the age of 30. Photo: Weibo

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Wang Meng (left) performed on stage alongside other female celebrities aged over 30. Photo: Weibo

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China

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China’s three-time Olympic diving gold medallist sparks concern and well-wishes but is also attacked for drawing attention to herself


China’s three-time Olympic diving gold medallist sparks concern and well-wishes but is also attacked for drawing attention to herself.


Quan Hongchan

Olympic champion Quan Hongchan’s emotional post over mum’s health woes divides internet

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China’s three-time Olympic diving gold medallist sparks concern and well-wishes but is also attacked for drawing attention to herself

China’s three-time Olympic diving gold medallist sparks concern and well-wishes but is also attacked for drawing attention to herself