Training Center Files Police Report Over Cyberbullying Targeting Diving Champion Quan Hongchan

Quan Hongchan, China's youngest triple Olympic gold medalist in diving, has become the target of severe cyberbullying, prompting her training centre to file a police report today.

The Guangdong Ersha Sports Training Center said that it had lodged a formal complaint with the police over the online attacks against the 19-year-old athlete. The center condemned the harassment in strong terms.

"Quan Hongchan, as a young athlete who has won honors for the nation, has endured undue public pressure and psychological harm during her growth," the center said in a statement. "We express serious concern and firm opposition to any form of malicious slander, abusive language, or dissemination of false information against athletes and their families."

In a separate statement released the same day, the Aquatics Sports Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China voiced its full support for legal action to protect athletes' rights.

"We have noted the online violence, malicious attacks, and false information targeting Quan Hongchan and other divers," the administration said. "We have initiated a joint investigation with the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau. We resolutely support the use of legal means to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of athletes, and firmly oppose the erosion of unhealthy 'fan circle' culture. Any verified violations will be dealt with severely, regardless of who is involved."

The actions follow a recent emotional interview Quan gave to People magazine, in which she broke down in tears and admitted she had considered retirement after the Paris 2024 Olympics due to weight control issues and mounting public scrutiny.

"I hope those who attack me will stop cursing me, stop cursing my family, and stop cursing my friends," Quan said. "Otherwise, they will all stay away from me."

She added: "The people who attack me online also go after my friends. When my friends hang out with me, they say they have to be careful not to be photographed, afraid of being talked about online. So I can't get too close to them either. I'm afraid the outside world will attack them."

Quan won gold in the women's individual 10m platform at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and repeated the feat at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she also took gold in the women's synchronized 10m platform. She is the youngest triple gold medallist in Chinese Olympic history.