Former Chinese Gymnast Wu Liufang's "Borderline Dance" Sparks Controversy, Reflecting Retired Athletes' Plight

Former Chinese gymnast Wu Liufang. (Screenshot from the internet)

People News - Former Chinese national women's gymnastics team member Wu Liufang recently faced backlash on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) for performing a sensual dance, which critics claimed tarnished the image of national athletes. The video was subsequently removed from the platform, and her Douyin account was restricted until it was unblocked on December 1. Analysts believe this controversy not only highlights the struggles retired athletes face in making a living but also reflects China's increasingly conservative and narrow societal atmosphere, reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution era, where no dissenting ideas were allowed.

According to a report by Voice of America, Wu Liufang, who will soon turn 30, began practicing gymnastics at the age of 4. She joined the national team in 2008 and won 15 gold medals and 16 silver medals in various international competitions. However, she suffered a serious injury during a competition, narrowly avoiding paralysis from a cervical spine fracture. Unable to compete in the Olympics due to her injury, she retired in 2013.

After retiring, Wu initially turned to livestreaming. In one video, she revealed that she was required to livestream for six hours a day, earning a minimum monthly income of 3,000–4,000 yuan (roughly $400–550 USD). However, with little content and a lack of viewers, she eventually gave up. In 2019, she worked as a teacher at a training institution in Hangzhou but quit after her employer failed to pay her salary. This was one of the most challenging periods of her life, during which she had no income and barely had enough to eat. Later, she became a coach at a sports school in Jiaxing. The school initially promised her a permanent position, but after two years, someone else took the slot, leaving her without a formal appointment. Forced to make ends meet, she returned to livestreaming.

Bold Attire and Sensual Dancing Spark Polarized Reactions

According to reports from Chinese media outlets such as Southern Metropolis Daily and The Paper, Wu Liufang returned to livestreaming and became an influencer in March this year. In November, she posted a series of videos featuring sensual dances, wearing outfits such as garter belts, black stockings, low-cut tops, or extremely short shorts and tight clothing, showcasing her stunning figure.

However, performing provocative dances while carrying the "halo" of a national athlete thrust Wu Liufang into controversy. Critics accused her of performing "borderline dances" that sell sexuality and tarnish the image of national athletes.

The first to voice criticism was Guan Chenchen, another gymnast who won a gold medal in the balance beam event at the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021. Guan commented on one of Wu's videos: "Senior sister, if you want to 'cross the line,' that’s your business. Just don’t drag gymnastics into it."

The following day, Guan was interviewed by CCP state media, where she stated that gymnastics is a sacred profession, and she couldn't stand seeing it associated with negative influences. Guan also criticized Wu for using her title as a gymnastics champion while performing dances in revealing attire on the streets. "Whether she’s 'borderline' or not, everyone knows in their hearts. Some people just want to watch her dance," she added.

Initially, Wu Liufang’s Douyin account had fewer than 50,000 followers, but after Guan's public criticism, her follower count surged by over 2 million in just one day. However, as the controversy grew, Wu’s Douyin account was restricted on November 24, with the platform disabling the "follow" feature for her account. Many of her dance videos were taken down, dropping from 57 videos to just 7. Her account was not unblocked until December 1.

Following the unblocking, Wu Liufang’s popularity soared further, and her follower count climbed to over 6 million. In a video, she addressed the situation, stating that her actions were not an intentional publicity stunt but were instead driven by necessity: "I just want to change my fate." Her remarks garnered sympathy and understanding from many netizens. Wu also posted photos of herself in traditional Chinese hanfu attire on Weibo, showcasing a graceful and classical side of herself. These photos received widespread support from netizens, with comments like: "Go for it! Be yourself," "Her championship is her glory, not her shackle," and "As long as she isn’t stealing, lying, or cheating, she’s already better than many people in this world."

The Struggles of Retired Athletes

Wu Liufang’s decision to turn to livestreaming, a profession with the lowest entry barriers, to make ends meet highlights a common struggle among retired athletes.

In an interview with Voice of America, Li Jianxing, Secretary General of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, professor in the Department of Physical Education at Taiwan Normal University, and head coach of the national archery teams, explained that global competitive sports generally fall into three categories: Capitalist Market Logic: This follows a free-market commercial mechanism, where athletes are cultivated by their families from a young age. As they age, sponsorships and diverse career opportunities become available. Planned Economy Model: Seen in countries like China, this model treats national athletes as political assets under state control, with all decisions dictated by state planning. Hybrid Model: For example, in Taiwan, athletes are trained in state-supported sports programs from a young age until adulthood, but later also receive sponsorship from private enterprises in the free market.

Li pointed out that Wu Liufang’s case is unique because she is not an Olympic gold medalist or world champion and thus not considered one of China’s top-tier athletes. For the most elite national athletes, the Chinese government offers post-retirement roles such as teaching positions at prestigious universities (like the 985 and 211 institutions) or positions as deputy directors or higher in local sports bureaus, along with housing and living subsidies, and other generous benefits. For Wu, the government arranged for her to continue her education at Beijing Sport University after retiring at 19. However, after graduating, she could not directly become a civil servant and had to take exams to qualify for teaching roles, as is common for many athletes in her position.

The Impact of Closed Training on Developing Diverse Skills

Li Jianxing explained that athletes often live in a highly closed environment because such an arrangement is necessary for achieving top-level performance. However, this closed-off training and lifestyle do not guarantee that an athlete will reach the highest levels of success. For those who do not become the brightest stars and fail to secure significant resources, their careers on the competitive stage often end prematurely.

He noted that for those who are eliminated from competition, they often find themselves unprepared for life outside the sporting world. These athletes dedicate everything to their training and sacrifice other academic pursuits in fields like humanities, sciences, and engineering, leaving them without the skills necessary to transition into society. For many, their real challenges begin after they leave the competitive stage.

Thus, whether athletes can develop diverse skills and maintain an open mindset during their growth is a crucial aspect of sports system design. Li cited the Australian National Training Center, which has a career planning department that monitors athletes’ performance and prepares them for life transitions after retirement.

Li admitted that building diverse skills is challenging, regardless of whether the system is Eastern or Western.

"In mainland China," he said, "the focus is on producing the best athletes, leaving little room for diverse development, including regular academic learning. Compared to other countries, the intense competition in China makes it harder for athletes to pursue multiple paths."

Li also emphasized that an athlete's career prospects after retirement are closely tied to their socioeconomic background. Many top-performing athletes come from lower-income families, hoping to rise through state-supported training and opportunities. However, standing out in a highly competitive environment is extremely difficult. For those who fail to do so and lack diverse skills, they often find themselves without support from family or society when they leave the competitive stage. In contrast, athletes from middle-class or affluent families benefit from better education and social support, giving them more resources and the confidence to explore other paths in life after their sports careers end.

Some Athletes Thrive, Others Struggle

In reality, many retired Chinese national team athletes face difficult lives. Weightlifting champion Zou Chunlan, who won nine gold medals, had no skills after retirement and could only work as a bathhouse attendant scrubbing customers to make a living. Former national heavyweight weightlifting champion Cai Li died at the young age of 33, struggling with poverty and illness. Long-distance runner Ai Dongmei was forced to sell her medals to make ends meet. Another gymnast, Zhang Shangwu, retired due to injuries and ended up selling his gold medals, performing on the streets, and even resorting to theft at one point.

While some athletes fall on hard times, others thrive. Table tennis queen Deng Yaping became the Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Daily and General Manager of its search engine (formerly called "People’s Search") after retiring. Former Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, who played for the NBA’s Houston Rockets, not only managed basketball teams and became the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association but also worked to bring basketball to children in China's rural areas and advocated for global environmental causes. Former "Prince of Gymnastics" Li Ning founded the "Li-Ning" sports brand, which became the first Chinese mainland sportswear company to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2004, making him a successful businessman. Many other athletes transition into careers as coaches or teachers.

A Stark Contrast Between National Athlete and Sensual Dance Performer – Narrow-Minded Netizens or Societal Conservatism?

Analysts note that a retired sports star livestreaming is not inherently problematic, nor is being a female livestreamer who performs "borderline dances." These roles, when viewed separately, would not draw much attention. However, when these identities combine within China's unique political system and societal atmosphere, the sight of a former national team athlete engaging in what some deem vulgar behavior creates a stark contrast, triggering widespread outrage. In contrast, in Western societies, career choices are considered personal freedoms, and few would view such actions as problematic.

Canadian commentator Gong Zichen told Voice of America that the public anger directed at Wu Liufang reflects the increasingly closed and conservative nature of Chinese society. He likened it to a return to the Mao Zedong era, where people couldn’t wear clothes of different colors or express individual ideas without facing criticism or persecution.

Gong stated, "The criticism, accusations, and online abuse Wu Liufang faces today reflect how many Chinese netizens’ views have become increasingly narrow-minded and conservative. This is a result of the CCP's regime indoctrination through brainwashing education and cultural propaganda. It’s a new ideology they’re instilling, one that promotes hatred for the outside world and modern civilization. I see this as an anti-modern civilization mindset."

He added that, for the CCP, sports are a political task. The goal is not to promote fitness or healthy living but to win gold medals, which boosts the CCP and its leaders' stature in the public eye and enhances their international influence. When an athlete can no longer deliver gold medals, they lose value to the CCP. "Once they’ve served their purpose, they are discarded and forgotten, left with injuries and little support."

A Uniquely Chinese Phenomenon

Gong Zichen emphasized that while the challenges athletes face in transitioning to new careers after retirement are a global issue, not unique to China, the backlash Wu Liufang encountered for choosing a new profession and succeeding as a livestreamer is uniquely Chinese. Despite earning money and finding success, she still faced widespread criticism.

"If the same situation occurred in another country, people might applaud her and say she made a successful transition. But in China, it instead becomes a 'crime' and a reason to publicly denounce her. I think this highlights a key difference between China and Western countries," he said.