We may not all be blessed with the talent to perform a “water splash disappearance technique” (水花消失术, shuǐhuā xiaoshī shù) dive off of a ten-meter platform, but we can all own a pair of fish-shaped slippers with googly eyes.
Indeed, silly slippers, stuffed animals, and sunglasses may be the closest many of us get to resembling Quan Hongchan, the Chinese diver and Olympic gold medalist who earned a perfect score of ten on her first of five dives in Paris. On the diving board, Quan is poised and collected, yet on dry land, the 17-year-old is blunt, goofy, and irreverent, despite her status as an Olympic and world champion.
Quan is emerging as an unexpected influencer, drawing public attention to several pairs of “ugly” fish shoes.
In one video, Quan shows off her pair of pink and white fish-shaped slippers. The shoes’ toe openings resemble a fish’s mouth, paired with two adorable wacky eyes. Quan sticks out her toes and says, “My green pair is already ruined. These are so comfortable when you stick your toes out.”
One seller from the manufacturing hub of Yiwu said the shoes were a hard sell before the Olympics, and now, they are selling hundreds of pairs every day, at least ten times more than before.
Quan also loves carrying all her stuffed animals around. Fans shower Quan with stuffed animals following competitions, inspired by Quan’s mother’s remark that the young diver loved getting stuffed animals from claw machines but the family could not afford it.
On Xiaohongshu, fans are listing the exact prices and details for purchasing Quan’s stuffed animals, including variations of the Olu Mel turtle which seems to be Quan’s favorite.
Quan is not the only Chinese Olympian who’s attracting attention with their style. Other clothing items and accessories that have sparked Olympic “identical style” (同款, tóngkuǎn) trends include the white hair clip worn by sport shooter Huang Yuting, the Balenciaga-esque down jackets of the swim team, and tennis champion Zheng Qinwen’s many dresses.
The surge in popularity of these items speaks to the commercial potential of Chinese athletes, which brands are beginning to take a gamble for. However, part of the appeal of these products is that they are down to earth and authentic to Gen Z athletes like Quan, and therefore relatable for younger Chinese sports fans. Whether luxury brands endorsed by athletes can hold the same appeal is as yet unknown.
Banner image via Sina News.
