According to an exclusive report by insidethegames, Zhou Jihong, vice president of FINA, president of the Chinese Swimming Association, president of the China Diving Association and deputy director of the Swimming Center of the State General Administration of Sport, was complained by New Zealand diving referee Lisa Wright, who said that Zhou Jihong frequently abused himself during the men's 10m platform competition at the Tokyo Olympics. Although China's Cao Yuan won the gold medal and Yang Jian won the silver medal in that game, Zhou Jihong continued to insult Lisa Wright in the middle of the game.
Lisa Wright later reported Zhou Jihong's violation to FINA through the New Zealand Swimming Association, arguing that Zhou Jihong's insulting referee violated Articles 4.1.1 and 4.1.4 of FINA regulations, that is, it is not possible to insult and harass referees.
Previously, in November 2021, the FINA Ethics Committee arbitrated the matter, arguing that there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Zhou Jihong insulted the referee, although an anonymous whistleblower has provided the latest evidence.
Zhou Jihong is China's first diving Olympic champion, after retiring as the diving team coach, team leader led the Chinese diving team to continue to win the Olympic Games, achieved extraordinary competitive results, the Chinese diving team is known as the dream team. And Zhou Jihong himself was awarded the elegant title of "Iron Lady of the Diving World" because of his spicy personality and strong style. She has also caused controversy because of her strong and domineering style, having expelled Tian Liang from the national team, being criticized by FINA for angrily hammering the referee's table at the Diving World Championships, and being reported by Yu Fen, the coach of the diving team of Tsinghua University, for embezzling the prize money.