Rising Chinese high jump star, Shao Yuqi, has gone viral for her athletic performance and striking appearance.

The athlete has also attracted attention and praise for challenging traditional beauty stereotypes in sport.

On August 1, Shao, 23, from the Hubei provincial track and field team based in central China, claimed the women’s high jump title at the 2025 Chinese National Athletics Championships with a leap of 1.90 metres.

Following her victory, Shao went viral on mainland social media for both her performance and her striking looks.

One of her videos on social media showcasing the competition got more than 3 million likes.

Shao was introduced to the high jump at primary school, where her athletic potential was quickly recognised after she effortlessly cleared a one-metre bar during a tryout.

“There were so many stereotypes in primary school. People assumed that if I went into sports, I would waste my life, maybe end up at a sports school at best,” Shao told Jiupai News.

Several healthcare workers at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California, were fired after a TikTok video surfaced showing them mocking patients in an exam room. The video, originally posted by a former employee, depicted staff posing with patients’ bodily fluids on exam tables, with captions like “Are patients allowed to leave you guys gifts?” and “Make sure you leave your healthcare workers sweet gifts like these.” The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage online and prompting Sutter Health, which operates the clinic, to take swift action.

Sutter Health confirmed that all employees involved in the video were terminated, emphasizing that the behavior violated their policies and disrespected patients. The health system stated, “Protecting the trust of those we serve is our highest priority, and when that trust is violated, we take swift action.”

The incident drew widespread condemnation on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, where users criticized the workers for their unprofessional conduct. One commenter on Reddit remarked, “No place for shaming the patient in medicine,” while another questioned the clinic’s culture that allowed such behavior.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Sansum Clinic was notified of the video by concerned patients and conducted a review, placing the employees on administrative leave within 24 hours and terminating them shortly after. Sutter Health reiterated their commitment to patient privacy and dignity, using the incident to reinforce their policies with all team members.

The Santa Barbara Independent noted that the video gained traction over Labor Day weekend, leading to a wave of negative reviews on the clinic’s Yelp page. Sutter Health stated that they are conducting a full investigation and that any staff associated with the content are on administrative leave pending the outcome.

Aryna Sabalenka put on a clinic during Tuesday night’s match against Qinwen Zheng, winning in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the US Open. 

One of Sabalenka’s coaches, Jason Stacy, went viral during Tuesday night’s match because he was wearing an “XX-XY” hat at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

This hat was made by the XX-XY Athletics brand. Their goal is to protect women’s sports.

“It is simply undeniable that sex matters, especially in sport. It is the single biggest determinant of athletic performance,” the brand’s mission statement reads. “Men and women are different. It’s just a fact. Men have XY chromosomes and more testosterone which makes them stronger and faster.”

While some people support XX-XY Athletics, others believe Sabalenka’s coach is sending a bad message at the US Open, particularly towards the transgender community. 

“So what’s up with sabalenka’s coach’s transphobic hat,” one person said. 

Another person tweeted, “Is nobody really going to ask @SabalenkaA about her loser physio wearing that disgusting hat?”

“I love that Sabalenka’s coach is wearing that hat,” a third person wrote. 

It’s unlikely Sabalenka’s coach addresses all this backlash in the middle of the US Open. Perhaps he’ll field some questions after the tournament comes to an end. 

Sabalenka will be back in action at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night against Emma Navarro.  

Related: Tennis Star Aryna Sabalenka Turns Heads In Swimsuit Photos