Latest news with #FuYuanhui
The Star
27-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
An hour swimming class with China sports star auctioned for US$14,000 for charity
A one-hour swimming class with top Chinese athlete Fu Yuanhui has been auctioned for 100,001 yuan (US$14,000), with the proceeds donated to a local charity. The auction, which garnered significant attention on mainland China's social media, took place on June 18 on a leading platform, according to Elephant News. Zhejiang Ruoque Group, a hi-tech firm based in Hangzhou, secured the winning bid after 19 rounds of competitive bidding for the exclusive package, which includes a one-hour swimming lesson taught by Fu, as well as meet-and-greet activities like group photos and her autograph on souvenirs. At 29, Fu is an elite swimming star who enjoys immense popularity in China. She gained widespread fame in 2016 for her naturally animated and expressive demeanour during an interview with state media at the London Olympics. After competing in the 100m backstroke semi-final, Fu was informed by a reporter of her impressive score, which astonished her, as it was the best result she had achieved. 'Did I swim that fast? I am quite satisfied,' Fu exclaimed. When asked if she hoped to swim faster in the next day's final competition, Fu responded, 'No. I am satisfied with my current score.' When the reporter inquired if she had held back in the semi-final, she famously replied, 'No, I have used all my prehistoric powers to swim.' Fu ultimately claimed third place in the final of the 100m backstroke at the London Olympics and is currently China's female record holder for that event. Her expressive reaction quickly went viral online, inspiring a wave of memes, while her candid and humorous personality won her immense public support. Though Fu retired from competitive sports years ago, she graduated last year from Beijing Sport University with a master's degree and was hired by the prestigious Zhejiang University as a sports instructor. 'It is a rare opportunity and a meaningful experience to be taught by Teacher Fu Yuanhui, the swimming champion,' said the boss of Zhejiang Ruoque Group, who remains unnamed in the report. He plans to allow some of his employees and clients to enrol their children in the special class with Fu. According to the auction advertisement, the swimming class will accommodate no more than seven attendees, aged between 6 and 12, who must have some basic swimming skills. The class is scheduled for July 2 at a sports centre in Hangzhou. 'With summer holiday approaching, we hope this special swimming class will benefit our staff and clients,' the company's boss stated. 'We hope these children can be inspired to love sports and bravely pursue their dreams.' The auction proceeds will be donated to the Zhejiang Provincial Love Fund, a charity organisation managed by the provincial civil affairs authority. 'Thumbs up to this company and Fu Yuanhui for their philanthropic efforts,' remarked one online observer. Conversely, another commenter questioned: 'What can children learn from just one class?' - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
South China Morning Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
An hour swimming class with China star Fu Yuanhui auctioned for US$14,000 for charity
A one-hour swimming class with top Chinese athlete Fu Yuanhui has been auctioned for 100,001 yuan (US$14,000), with the proceeds donated to a local charity. Advertisement The auction, which garnered significant attention on mainland China's social media, took place on June 18 on a leading platform, according to Elephant News. Zhejiang Ruoque Group, a hi-tech firm based in Hangzhou, secured the winning bid after 19 rounds of competitive bidding for the exclusive package, which includes a one-hour swimming lesson taught by Fu, as well as meet-and-greet activities like group photos and her autograph on souvenirs. At 29, Fu is an elite swimming star who enjoys immense popularity in China. She gained widespread fame in 2016 for her naturally animated and expressive demeanour during an interview with state media at the London Olympics. Fu graduated last year from Beijing Sport University with a master's degree and was hired by the prestigious Zhejiang University as a sports instructor. Photo: Baidu After competing in the 100m backstroke semi-final, Fu was informed by a reporter of her impressive score, which astonished her, as it was the best result she had achieved. 'Did I swim that fast? I am quite satisfied,' Fu exclaimed.
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Periods limiting participation
Nothing should stop women playing sport - period. But a new study has revealed that menstrual cycles are among the leading reasons why women forgo playing sport. The study, a collaboration between Victoria University's women in sport team and Share the Dignity, an Australian charity aiming to end period poverty, found 68% of women skipped sport completely due to their period, while 90% worried about leaking and 72% were anxious about their period while playing sport. That is a rather large pool of people who are missing out on the chance to exercise recreationally, or as a competitive athlete, all because of something that is outside their control. Yes, women can pay to go on contraception to manage, or even skip, their periods, but that is not a healthy solution, and why should women pay for that on top of the cost of period products? The study, which surveyed 330 people, found the majority agreed sports facilities and their policies needed to recognise menstrual health as a fundamental right and provide free period products. They launched the Bloody Good Idea initiative, aimed at providing free period products at sport and leisure facilities to help improve support for athletes who had their period. From the people who had access to free products, about 50% had utilised them when they got caught out playing sport and no-one used them to add to their personal supplies. Menstrual cycles can cause an array of issues for women during that time of the month, including cramps, digestive disorders, bloating and increased tiredness. Periods have historically been a taboo topic to openly talk about, but the narrative appears to be shifting in the past 10 years. After missing the podium in the 4x100m relay at the Rio Olympics, Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui frankly told reporters her period started the day before the race. ''That's why I feel very weak and tired, but this is not an excuse. At the end of the day, I simply did not swim very well,'' Yuanhui said. United States double world champion footballer Megan Rapinoe has called periods ''as normal as breathing'', while her compatriot rugby star, Ilona Maher, openly told her TikTok followers she was taking 50 tampons to the Paris Olympics just in case, despite not expecting her period. That language can help change the landscape of young women's perceptions of dealing with menstrual cycles in sport. Israel marathon runner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter spoke about her cramps being so bad during the Tokyo Olympics she had to take a break mid-race, and New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko talked about her experience with menstrual pain and tightness during the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship. ''The younger me would say it's embarrassing, but now I don't think it is that embarrassing to say it any more because I'm not the only one, right?,'' Ko said. And she is right. We should be supporting our young women, and elite athletes, through whatever their sporting endeavours look like and eliminating barriers that could stand in their way. More has been done in recent years, with many football and rugby clubs swapping white shorts for darker colours to ease their players' comfort at all times of the month, and much of that has been led by those on the field now. The conversation around periods continues to evolve - and it needs to - and it needs to be kept at the forefront to fight for a fairer future for women to understand the fundamentals of their bodies when playing sport. It is what they deserve - period.
