Both athletes recently appeared on popular Chinese reality TV shows, and the audience reaction has been mixed, particularly for Sun, the most decorated Chinese swimmer in history with three Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles.
The 34-year-old faced significant online criticism for his behavior on the travel-based reality show Viva La Romance. Viewers branded him “immature” after one incident: while acting as his travel group’s guide, Sun led them in the wrong direction and refused help or advice from his teammates. The situation escalated to the point where the show’s producers were forced to intervene.
Olympic champion Sun Yang and his wife Zhang Doudou. Photo by Weibo |
Appearing alongside his wife, former rhythmic gymnast Zhang Doudou, Sun was heavily criticized for behaving “like a child.” The negativity soon spilled over into his personal life, with some spreading false rumors that he had fathered a child with another woman, the South China Morning Post reported.
In response to the accusation, Sun published an open letter from his legal team. The statement threatened legal action against those who “maliciously create or spread such false information” and urged the public not to “fabricate, believe, or share rumors.”
Meanwhile, speed skater Wang Meng experienced a slightly more positive but still polarizing reception on the hit talent competition Sisters Who Make Waves 2026.
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Wang Meng on the Chinese TV show Sisters Who Make Waves. Photo by Weibo |
The program features female celebrities over the age of 30 competing to make a comeback. The four-time Olympic short-track speed skating champion was widely praised for her strong stage presence and straightforward personality.
However, the public reception was not entirely flattering.
Some viewers fixated on her aesthetic, labeling her “masculine,” with critics noting that her commanding entrance felt less like a pop star and more like “an emperor entering the palace.”
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