Chinese Olympic champion and swimmer Tan Haiyang was recently embroiled in a scandal of soliciting prostitutes by his fiancee. In a recorded conversation with his fiancee, Tan admitted to having affairs during his time with the PLA Navy swimming team and made a “vow” to correct his behavior, but denied it after the scandal broke. Tan Haiyang, dubbed by official media as the “Chinese Frog King,” was recently received by top Chinese Communist Party leaders, including Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
On October 7th, a netizen claiming to be Tan Haiyang’s fiancee posted on her personal Weibo account under the username “幸福烤冷麵攤主” revealing the emotional conflicts she had with Tan Haiyang. She expressed that throughout their six-year relationship, they went through ups and downs, but Tan Haiyang’s infidelity was something she could no longer tolerate.
She revealed that Tan Haiyang had been unfaithful during their relationship and pregnancy, as well as maintaining ambiguous relationships with fans, teammates, and even allegedly engaging in soliciting prostitutes.
According to the netizen, after each mistake, Tan Haiyang chose to conceal, deceive, and even used intimate videos and his professional career as a way to threaten her, demanding forgiveness.
In a recorded conversation shared by the netizen, Tan Haiyang confesses to having affairs and soliciting prostitutes during his time in the navy.
The netizen also posted multiple transfer records and chat logs as evidence, claiming to possess chat records and recordings as “ironclad evidence.” She stated that if Tan Haiyang felt wronged, he could sue her, as she was ready.
During her livestream, she disclosed more details: Tan Haiyang no longer answers her calls; when they went for an abortion, Tan Haiyang’s mother questioned her why she didn’t go alone; she financially supported Tan Haiyang and his teammates on trips, spending over two hundred thousand yuan; Tan Haiyang would buy her gifts but she had spent more money on him.
Reports from “Jinan Times” and “DaWan News” revealed that Tan Haiyang’s fiancee is a businesswoman. Tan Haiyang once referred to her as “小胖企業家” (Little Chubby Entrepreneur) in replies to comments on his Weibo.
As an entrepreneur, Tan Haiyang’s fiancee had sponsored awards for him. Currently, her demand is for Tan Haiyang not to avoid the issue and issue an apology.
According to public records, Tan Haiyang’s fiancee is the legal representative of a media and cultural limited company, mainly engaged in business services, where Tan Haiyang serves as a shareholder. Additionally, she has served as the legal representative for multiple companies.
Following the news, the topic gained traction on Weibo. Netizens noticed that Tan Haiyang had enabled one-click protection on his Weibo, disabling the comment section.
According to “Beijing Daily,” in response to the revelations made by “幸福烤冷麵攤主” (original ID “小胖蛙”), Tan Haiyang’s studio issued a statement denying the allegations and labeling them as “malicious attempts to tarnish the athlete’s image.”
In July 2023, Tan Haiyang’s fiancee was interviewed by “Beijing Youth Daily,” using the alias “小胖蛙” with the interview subject’s consent.
Furthermore, some blog posts and videos by “幸福烤冷麵攤主” were blocked by the authorities.
The incident has sparked widespread attention and discussions. Many netizens expressed disappointment and anger towards Tan Haiyang’s behavior, as an Olympic champion, they believe he should lead by example and cherish his reputation.
Notably, at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Tan Haiyang’s fiancee was mistaken for a fan during a live interview. When asked, “What do you like most about him?” She promptly replied, “I like him for his handsomeness, hard work, diligence, and seriousness.” Chinese media commented, “What was once deep affection now results in a mess.”
As a swimming star, 25-year-old Tan Haiyang had endorsements from brands like VISA, Anta, and Yili. As of now, VISA, Anta, Yili’s social media accounts have not removed content related to Tan Haiyang.
Public records show that Tan Haiyang, hailing from Shimen, Hunan, was taken to a Shanghai training academy in Minhang District at the age of 9 for professional swimming training. He later joined the PLA Navy swimming team after trials. In July 2023, Tan Haiyang won a gold medal in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke final at the 2023 World Swimming Championships. Subsequently, he also won a gold medal in the 200m Breaststroke. In September 2023 at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Tan Haiyang clinched 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal. Tan Haiyang was hailed as the “Chinese Frog King” by official media.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tan Haiyang performed poorly in individual events, finishing 7th in the 100m Breaststroke final and 10th in the 200m Breaststroke, missing the finals. However, he gradually recovered in team events. Tan Haiyang attributed the failure mainly to a mindset issue.