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Stephy Zhang

Olympic champion diver Quan Hongchan has revealed she is a victim of cyberbullying over her physique, stating it has made her feel “resistance and dissatisfaction” towards her body and she yearns to be her former cheerful self.
In an interview published on Monday, the diving star discussed the pressure and confusion of entering adulthood. Quan, who turned 19 in March, noted that weight has been her primary struggle as an adult.
“People keep saying my weight is very heavy,” she said. “I am terrified of the scale now because so many people are saying I am fat.”
Since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won gold in the women’s individual 10m platform, Quan has experienced a growth spurt, growing 10cm (3.9 inches) to 1.58m (5 feet, 2 inches) and naturally gaining around 8kg (17.6 lbs).
In diving, a sport that is highly sensitive to weight, even minor fluctuations are significant.
During the 2025 World Cup season, she was repeatedly labelled “fat” online, leading to what she described as a “psychological shadow”.

“For a long time, I didn’t dare wear the skirts or shorts I liked, hiding my limbs in long sleeves and pants,” she admitted. “I avoided mirrors and cameras, and felt resistance towards my own body.”
Despite eating only one meal a day, she struggled to lose weight.
“I can’t accept being this fat, but there is nothing I can do; I gain weight even from drinking water,” she said.
Quan explained she rarely shares her struggles to avoid “troubling others” or spreading negative energy. However, she admitted her “string has been pulled to the limit”, citing total mental and physical exhaustion.
The ordeal has forced the young diver to take another temporary break, following the one she took before the National Games.
Regarding the online abuse, she said: “I hope those attacking me will stop cursing me, my family and my friends. Otherwise, they will all distance themselves from me. Everyone has it hard, I understand that.”
In 2025, Quan competed in four events: two World Cup stops, the World Cup Final, and the National Games in November.
She secured silvers in the individual events of the World Cups with scores exceeding 400 – the elite benchmark for the Chinese national team.
At the National Games, she skipped the individual event but won the 10m synchro team title by a narrow 0.9-point margin, later finishing fifth in the women’s 10m synchro final.
She described her sporting year as “remarkable”, but she admitted she considered retiring after Paris but chose to persevere for the National Games.


Returning to the diving hall, however, during her break before the National Games brought back feelings of “oppression and fear”.
“But it’s OK; many people endure this, and I should be able to as well,” she said. “This will eventually pass, though I don’t know when.”
Even when on a break, she faces constant questions about her training and future.
Quan stated she simply wants to get into a good mental state and consider her next steps.
Looking to the future, the diver is aiming to take things slow and is hoping to not grow up too fast.
“I want my time to last a bit longer … now I want time to slow down. I don’t want to grow up so fast.”
Now more sensitive to the judgment of others, Quan expressed a fear of interviews and speaking out of turn.
“I’m not sure if I’m still a brave person,” she said, adding that she wishes to return to her old self, despite knowing it is impossible.
“I just hope time can slow down and give me more time.”


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Olympic champion diver Quan Hongchan has revealed she is a victim of cyberbullying over her physique. Photo: Xinhua

Quan Hongchan won gold in the women’s individual 10m platform at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: Reuters 

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The 19-year-old says she does not normally share her issues to avoid ‘troubling others’ or spreading negative energy


The 19-year-old says she does not normally share her issues to avoid ‘troubling others’ or spreading negative energy.


Quan Hongchan

Olympic champion diving star Quan Hongchan says she is victim of cyberbullying over her body

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 19-year-old says she does not normally share her issues to avoid ‘troubling others’ or spreading negative energy

The 19-year-old says she does not normally share her issues to avoid ‘troubling others’ or spreading negative energy