China’s top woman shot put athlete has ignited an online debate about female stereotypes after saying that she plans to lose weight, become beautiful and get married after she retires.
Gong Lijiao, 36, shared her life goals with the state media CCTV on November 23, shortly after announcing her retirement from sport.
She won the National Games championship, the country’s highest level comprehensive sports event, in mid-November, topping off a career which began 25 years ago.
Gong, from the northern province of Hebei, shot to fame by winning a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
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She won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver at the London event in 2012.
Despite bringing glory to her country, Gong has faced ridicule for “not being able to find a man to marry” because of her bulky and robust physique.
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She is 1.75m tall and weighs 110kg.