The 26-year-old won the women’s 100-meter hurdles, looking great as she clocked a stunning 12.74 seconds, the best Asian performance of the season, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on July 5. However, during a post-race interview, Wu rubbed her eyes, causing her fake eyelashes to fall off and prompting the athlete to hide the beauty malfunction by covering one of her eyes with her hand. Clips of the awkward blunder started circulating on Chinese social media, prompting scrutiny and divided opinions.
Wu Yanni, often nicknamed in China the “goddess of track and field,” scandalized local media
Share icon Image credits: Baidu/ChinaInPerson Share icon Image credits: Costfoto/NurPhoto Nevertheless, a handful of viewers expressed their admiration, as a person commented on Weibo, as per the SCMP: “Covering your eye is so funny and adorable! You are a sincere and talented female athlete.” After coming in a disappointing 10th place in the 2024 Diamond League Women’s 100-meter hurdles held on the southeastern coast of China, Xiamen, on April 20, criticism about Wu’s physique was continuously unveiled.
Wu stunned after wearing makeup while competing at the 2024 National Athletics Championships
— 五道杠不良少年(PRC Cool Image) (@136Division) June 2, 2024 Video credits: 136Division Share icon Image credits: CGTN Sports Scene At the time, fans of the sport criticized her on social media, as per MSN: “Her excessive concern for her appearance is the cause for her poor performance.” During the Diamond League race, the Chinese national champion sported dramatic eye makeup featuring star-shaped rhinestones.
Wu successfully competed in Shandong province, eastern China, on June 20
Share icon Image credits: VCG/Getty Images Despite occasional backlash, it is Wu’s physical appearance and outgoing personality, in addition to her impressive athleticism, that has earned her the nickname the goddess of track and field. Last year, the sportswoman, who had just won silver in the 100-meter women’s hurdles in the World University Games, hit back at critics of her “bad girl” tattoo, saying the body art is a symbol of her self-confidence.
— RADII (@RADII_Media) July 8, 2024
Last year, the Chinese national champion sported dramatic eye makeup featuring star-shaped rhinestones
Share icon Image credits: DI YIN/Getty Images After ensuring her qualification for the Paris Olympic Games, some observers preferred to focus on her tattooed right arm. During her hurdling heroics, Wu hid her tattoo – a crown surrounded by blooming flowers to signify victory – with a covering of red tape, the SCMP reported in August 2023. Share icon Image credits: CGTN Sports Scene
Last year, Wu, who had just won silver in the 100-meter women’s hurdles in the World University Games, hit back at critics
— Chunyu 春雨 (@Chunyu_China) July 2, 2024 Video credits: Chunyu_China Some criticized her with comments such as “only bad girls have tattoos,” “her tattoo has bad influence on children,” and “even gang members don’t have tattoos now.” According to the SCMP, China bans people under 18 from being inked and has outlawed the showing of tattoos on TV, live streams, or videos on social media. Video credits: SixthTone — Sixth Tone (@SixthTone) May 28, 2024
People have previously criticized Wu with comments such as “Only bad girls have tattoos”
Image credits: CGTN Sports Scene However, China’s General Administration of Sport has reportedly only officially banned footballers from the practice. Wu openly talked about the issue in an interview with state broadcaster China Central Television three years ago, saying: “I am confident in myself. I don’t have that tattoo for nothing.” The 2024 Summer Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11. Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!
