These incidents exemplify what state media are calling "toxic fandom," leading Chinese authorities to pledge a crackdown on such behaviour. The intense admiration for China's athletes has often turned dark, with fans obsessing over their personal lives, engaging in cyberbullying against competitors, and criticising judges. 

Experts suggest this behavior mirrors the fanaticism once seen with entertainment celebrities, prior to the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to control excessive adulation. Since winning her Olympic titles, Quan has become a focal point of intense interest, so much so that she chose not to return to her hometown in rural Guangdong.

During a recent visit by China's Olympic team to Macau, Quan was photographed in tears after being overwhelmed by fans at her hotel. Jian Xu, an expert in Chinese celebrity studies at Deakin University, noted that athletes have increasingly appeared on television and in livestreams, becoming commercialised celebrities. 

However, while some athletes are celebrated as heroes, others face online harassment. For instance, gymnast Su Weide encountered severe criticism after struggling in his routine at the Paris Olympics, while Chen Meng was booed during an all-Chinese table tennis final despite winning.

In response to such incidents, China's Ministry of Public Security has arrested several abusive online fans, and swimmer Pan Zhanle disbanded his official fan group on Weibo shortly after setting a world record. Online fan clubs, notorious for their fierce loyalty, have shifted from pop stars to athletes, raising concerns among authorities about their influence on youth.

Jian emphasised that many young people have turned to sports stars after the government enhanced oversight of celebrity fan groups in 2021, believing sports offer a "safe area" for expressing national pride. However, authorities now feel this admiration has gone too far. 

Recently, China's General Administration of Sport condemned "distorted fan culture" for harming the sports industry and urged athletes to maintain a "correct outlook on life." A Shanghai resident, identified only as Ms. Tan, supported Pan’s decision to dissolve his fan group, stating that successful stars should focus more on their progress and less on the opinions of fans.