This study explores how the Chinese make sense of elite female athletes’ identities on Weibo, focusing on Zheng Qinwen and her online comparisons with Gu Eileen, against the historical, social, and cultural backdrop of neo/non-liberal China. Guided by sensemaking theory and intersectionality, we conducted a critical discourse analysis of 2467 Weibo posts, identifying four primary themes: (1) “sporting superpower” and “empowered women”: reimagining the ideal female athlete; (2) “pure blood” and ethnic authenticity: shaping national pride in global sports; (3) middle-class success and anxiety: navigating Confucian family values and talent cultivation; and (4) polarized misogyny and national idolatry: reflecting emotionalized and commercialized online discourses. Our findings illustrate how Zheng and Gu's identities are shaped by societal tensions and competing values surrounding national aspirations, capitalist values, gender roles, and social mobility, with social media acting as a platform for grassroots expression and discursive contestation. Consequently, Zheng is portrayed as an ideal balance of these influences within global sports culture. This complexity is embedded in the unique multi-channel sports system within neo/non-liberal China, where the ideal Chinese sports heroines are expected to serve as cultural and ideological symbols for the state, underscoring their role in national representation.
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