Paris Olympics: Zhang Yufei’s swimming bronze sparks sympathy, fury on Chinese social media
- Zhang, dubbed China’s ‘butterfly queen’, won the silver in this event three years ago and was seen weeping after the award ceremony
Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei’s bronze medal in the women’s 100-metre butterfly has been met with encouragement and cynicism on social media.
United States swimmer Torri Huske clinched the gold medal, with compatriot and world-record holder Gretchen Walsh in second place.
Zhang, dubbed China’s “butterfly queen”, won the silver in the event three years ago and was seen weeping after the award ceremony.
“Perhaps I’ve pushed myself too hard,” Zhang said. “I did feel a lot of pressure, but I also believe in my own abilities and look forward to competing against strong opponents next time.”
Despite the outcome, her hometown fans remained supportive and uplifting. The hashtag “#YufeiDon’tCry” quickly surged to the top of Weibo’s trending list.
“Don’t cry, Yufei! We’re so proud of you. You’re really, really good,” one Weibo user commented.
