China lashes out over 'shameless' photo of Olympic gold medallist
The Chinese media has launched a bizarre attack on 'western' counterparts over a photo of weightlifting gold medallist Hou Zhihui.
China claimed three gold medals on the first day of the Tokyo Olympics, with Hou winning the women's 49kg weightlifting event.
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Hou claimed gold with an Olympic record total of 210 kilograms.
However her victory has sparked a bizarre controversy in China, with diplomats and state-run media fuming over a photo of her used to report on the triumph.
The photo in question shows the 24-year-old straining during a lift attempt.
The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka tweeted: "Among all the photos of the games, @Reuters has chosen this one, which only shows how ugly they are.
"Don’t put politics and ideologies above sports, and call yourself an unbiased media organisation. Shameless."
Among all the photos of the game, @Reuters has chosen this one, which only shows how ugly they are.
Don't put politics and ideologies above sports, and call yourself an unbiased media organization. Shameless.
Respect the spirit of #Olympics. https://t.co/FugQm9obGr— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) July 24, 2021
Same day, same Olympics, same @Reuters , different faces. Maybe it's because everything good in life comes easier for the white westerners?
We said that these biased MSM are ugly. Never the athletes. They're beautiful. pic.twitter.com/GBWoCJbW5O— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) July 24, 2021
The Global Times then published an article accusing Reuters of “unfairly targeting China”, claiming the image was “widely regarded as disrespectful”.
Pls respect Olympics spirit @Reuters! Chinese embassy @ChinaEmbSL slammed Reuters' selection of an ugly photo of weightlifting gold winner Hou Zhihui. "Don't put politics and ideologies above sports, and call yourself an unbiased media organization. Shameless," the embassy posted pic.twitter.com/lIOWLOhdfj
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 25, 2021
However the complaint sparked a wave of criticism itself, with many defending Reuters for their use of a photo that simply showed an athlete in action.
Wake up and recognize the beauty inherent in athletic achievement - which comes from effort.
If it were easy, you could do it.
You're focusing on the wrong thing. What's shameless is your failure to grasp what's meaningful about the image.— SeeHear Inc (@SeeHearInc) July 26, 2021
A champion poured her life into winning gold for the country and you called her ugly.
I think you are so biased about looks, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.— Verbatim HKG 🇭🇰🇹🇼🏅 (@VerbatimHKG) July 25, 2021
Its strength and determination. It's the will to win.
It's beautiful in its own way.
Stop being so pathetic and insecure.— cantopopped (@cantopopped) July 25, 2021
The perception of ugliness is all yours. Can only assume it's some cultural bias favoring bland, robot-like smiles that you are demanding others emulate. I think the challenge for you is to understand that others don't see the ugliness you see.
— Chris George Alexander (@MarsInsider) July 25, 2021
how can let such person handle this embassy's account?! shame! how dare you say that the photo is ugly? at that moment, this is the most beautiful and powerful face! what do you respect? a sweet smile on her face? and 《china daily》used the same photo, what will you say?
— 羽凰 Aisha Huang (@aisha_huang) July 25, 2021
Hou finished 3kg off her own world record.
“I just wanted to enjoy the Games. I don’t care about the world record or something,” she said.
“I just want to be myself, be all of myself.”
Weightlifter wins first ever Olympic gold for Philippines
Meanwhile, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history on Monday when she became the first athlete from the Philippines to win an Olympic gold medal.
The 30-year-old Rio 2016 silver medallist from the southern city of Zamboanga realised her dream in the women's 55kg class at the Tokyo International Forum, smashing her personal best to see off world record holder Liao Qiuyun of China who had to settle for silver.
With Liao setting a target of 223kg, just 4kg shy of her own world record, Diaz was faced with a final clean and jerk of 127kg to win - fully 5kg more than she had ever achieved in competition.
With a massive effort she hoisted the huge Olympic record weight and the tears of joy began to flow even before she dropped the bar to the floor after a triumphant effort.
Liao took the silver, with Kazakhstan's Zulfiya Chinshanlo the bronze 10kg adrift of the top two.
"It's unbelievable, it's a dream, come true," Diaz told AFP moments after the Philippines Air Force woman shed more tears on the podium as she saluted her flag and sung the national anthem.
"I want to say to the young generation in the Philippines, 'You can have this dream of gold too'.
"This is how I started and finally I was able to do it."
with agencies
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