While athletes from other countries push for equality and progression, Chinese athletes have been pushed back further and further.
Olympic gold medalist Gong Lijiao won the women's shot put final on Sunday and was interviewed this week by Chinese Central Television.
CCTV is a state controlled broadcasting wing, so you can judge their journalistic standards for yourselves.
BBC Sport have translated the interview, where the Chinese reporter says Gong "gave me the impression that she is a manly woman" before introducing her.
Gong answered back, and said, "I may look like a manly woman on the outside, but inside I'm still more of a girl." The reporter then asks, "do you have any plans for a woman's life?".
2️⃣2️⃣th #gold!
Gong Lijiao took gold in the women's put shot with her personal best throw of 20.53m!
This is her 4️⃣th Olympics appearance!
This is #chn power!#Tokyo2020 #Olympics #athletics pic.twitter.com/3c4vkdqvwq— Chinese Olympic Committee (@OlympicsCN) August 1, 2021
The three-time Olympic gold medalist appeared startled at the ridiculous question, and rightfully so. Another reporter jumped in at this point.
"Since you used to be a manly woman for shot put," she said. "Do you feel you can be yourself from now on?". At this point, it was hard to see why Gong didn't walk away from the interview.
"Maybe I'll look at my plans. If I don't train then perhaps I will lose weight, get married and have children. Yes, it's the path one must take in life."
The over-traditionalist outlook from the reporters, and the state friendly answer given by Gong really puts it into perspective how backward the social norms are in China.
Later in the interview, she was asked if she had a boyfriend, what type of man she was looking for and if she would arm-wrestle a potential boyfriend. This is an actual interview.
this topic on weibo celebrating the Chinese women at the Olympics in particular shot-putter gong lijiao :’)
‘the different types of feminine beauty at the olympics’ pic.twitter.com/A9TVbbeieS— 小透明 (@xiaotoumings) August 1, 2021
It's led to a backlash on social media, and rightfully so, about the questions Gong had to answer to. Chinese nationals have viewed the interview over 300 million times on social platform Weibo.
There's little surprise that despite their political stranglehold, Chinese people have joined the vocalists in speaking out about the interview. Gong has received thousands of messages of support.
According to the BBC, the Olympian has thanked people for their support, writing in one response, "This totally expresses what I feel! Thank you!".
Let's hope there's no fallout from this backward stunt, but rather it starts to relay a message in China to up their social standards.
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