A former Chinese Olympic diving champion’s quest for independence has struck a chord online, after her mother’s controlling behaviour drew widespread criticism following their appearance on a reality TV show.
Zhang Jiaqi, 22, grew up in a modest Beijing family and went on to win gold in the women’s synchronised 10-metre platform event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Her youthful charm and exceptional talent have also attracted 3.3 million followers on Douyin.
Zhang began diving at six, won her…
