A former champion gymnast who went from begging to working for one of the mainland's richest men has resigned, saying he was insulted by two scholars and his boss' secretary.
Zhang Shangwu, who won gold medals in the rings and team events at the 2001 World University Games, submitted his resignation to Jiangsu Huangpu Recycling Resources, owned by flamboyant philanthropist Chen Guangbiao, last Monday and took a train to Beijing from Nanjing, Jiangsu province.
The 28-year-old said he quit after two Shanghai sociologists criticised him on a Dragon TV programme, saying, 'You think you are really a dish' (something that can fetch a good price) and, 'You are only worth 1,400 yuan [HK$1,700] a month'.
His monthly salary at Chen's company - 11,000 yuan - provoked much comment in the domestic media when it was announced.
'They said these insulting words to devalue me, especially on a TV programme,' Zhang said. 'It shocked me very much and my dignity has been deeply hurt.'
He said he hoped Dragon TV would make an apology to him and he sought 140,000 yuan as compensation from the two scholars 'for the public insults'.
Zhang was in the limelight in July after a fan recognised him as he begged while performing gymnastics around Beijing subway stations. Domestic media reported that following his retirement from sport in 2005, he had trouble getting a job because of his limited education and a leg injury suffered in training. He had to sell his two medals and in 2007 was arrested for stealing in Beijing. He spent almost four years in prison.