‘Should I wear a down jacket?’ Ex China national athlete counters criticism over skimpy swimsuit
Liu Xiang asks if there is something wrong with her lifestyle as ‘many people are calling me a soft-porn live-streamer’
A retired Chinese swimming athlete has garnered support from mainland social media for defending herself against criticism regarding her choice to wear a revealing swimsuit.
Liu Xiang, 28, is a former member of the national swimming team. She won a gold medal in the 50-metre backstroke at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and has set multiple world records throughout her career.
After retiring from the national team in 2022, Liu transitioned to a full-time blogger, amassing 5.6 million followers on Douyin and 1.3 million fans on Weibo. She frequently shares videos related to travel, fashion, and swimming on these platforms.
“I saw many people calling me a soft-porn live-streamer. Is there something wrong with my lifestyle? Should I wear down jackets instead of a swimsuit while swimming?” Liu expressed on Weibo in response to online critics on November 30.
She added: “I learned to swim at the age of five. Swimming has become an inseparable part of my life. I love myself in a swimsuit, and I appreciate seeing other girls in swimwear. I hope my social media content conveys a positive attitude towards life to my audience. Am I doing anything wrong?
“If you ask whether I would dare to post videos of myself in a swimsuit in the future, my answer is: absolutely!”
So far, Liu’s social media accounts continue to operate normally.
