Chinese gymnast, 13, attempted suicide after allegedly being abused by coaches for 3 years, told she was 'wasting air by living'

A 13-year-old teenage gymnast from Zhejiang, China, fell from a height after allegedly enduring three years of physical and verbal abuse by her coaches.

The incident was brought to light by the girl's mother, who said her daughter's fall was an alleged suicide attempt after being repeatedly slapped, hit and scolded.

She was also allegedly extorted for over 43,000 yuan (S$7,800) in "fines", holiday gifts and training fees, her mother said.

Two coaches at the school are being investigated.

What happened

Fu Jiali, a competitive gymnast from the Zhejiang Sports Vocational and Technical College, had been a student at the institution since she was nine, according to Chinese sports media Sina Sports.

She previously won the Zhejiang provincial games in 2022 and subsequently joined the gymnastics team under the school's head coach Tang Yan and assistant coach Shi Jia.

Fall from height

On Nov. 25, 2025, Fu fell from the fourth floor of a building, suffering pulmonary contusion, fractured ribs, and liver damage, with lifelong consequences.

Sinchew Daily reported that Fu had suffered an emotional breakdown before her fall after being hit on the shoulder with a thermos flask for a training mistake.

She was also allegedly told that she was "wasting air by living".

Fu's mother was allegedly provided evasive answers when she asked about her daughter's accident.

When she asked for surveillance footage, she was refused.

Fu's alleged long-term abuse only came to light after she regained consciousness and told her mother about the mistreatment.

Alleged abuse and extortion

According to Fu, she was punished whenever she did not meet her coaches' expectations, including being slapped and her head banged against the wall.

She was also allegedly frequently verbally abused, not allowed to eat and made to sleep in a non air-conditioned room in 40-degree weather.

Fu said she was threatened against telling her parents about the punishments, or her coaches would "train her to death".

Many of her injuries were allegedly hidden by her coaches.

Fu's mother also said that her daughter was asked for money under the guise of holiday gifts and training fines.

In total, the family had transferred the coaches more than 43,000 yuan (S$7,800) in cash.

Investigations

Fu's mother went to the police on Jan. 10 on the grounds of her daughter's abuse and extortion that she said led to her fall.

Chinese media Guancha reported that the school intervened on Jan. 11 and paid the family 5,000 yuan (S$913) in living and nutrition expenses and about 80,990 yuan (S$14,793) in medical expenses.

They also compensated another 20,000 yuan (S$3,652) in medical expenses when Fu began rehabilitation on Jan. 21.

Fu's mother demanded the surveillance footage of her daughter's fall, the truth of her treatment and an apology from the school and coaches, reported Guancha.

According to state media Xinhua, police opened an investigation into Tang and Shi on Feb. 11.

The two coaches were also suspended from duties at the school in the meantime for corporal punishment and accepting money from parents.

Top images via Sinchew Daily & whyyoutouzhele/X