Amidst the noise at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, information and images related to the Beijing 2008 Olympics are being shared again.
Besides the grand performances by the host country China, many people also mention the lip-syncing scandal of the 9-year-old girl Lin Miaoke.
From the “Olympic angel” attracting over 2 billion viewers, Lin Miaoke suddenly became the target of attacks and boycotts. The "century swap" between Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi at that time caused outrage in China and around the world.
Specifically, to bring perfection to the opening ceremony, director Zhang Yimou had Lin Miaoke lip-sync on stage. The actual voice that the audience heard belonged to Yang Peiyi.
After the truth was revealed, Lin Miaoke was labeled as the "glory thief" of someone else. Yang Peiyi, though sympathized with, could not escape scrutiny of her private life. However, many years after the shocking scandal, both have gradually moved past the noise and live their own lives.
For Lin Miaoke, becoming the number one child star in China overnight helped the girl born in 1999 receive numerous advertising contracts and career development opportunities. Miaoke ventured into acting and left some notable marks.
In 2012, when the truth came to light, the audience turned their backs on Lin Miaoke, making her a target of cyberbullying. Not only that, she was also seen by her mother as a money-making tool, having no time to study due to participating in entertainment activities.
According to Sohu, Lin Miaoke was forced to sign contracts inappropriate for her age. Due to excessive control, the "Olympic angel" decided to study abroad in Australia from the age of 16, away from the spotlight.
In 2021, Lin Miaoke graduated from the acting department of Nanjing University of the Arts, returning to pursue art.
Meanwhile, Yang Peiyi had a contrasting fate. She was seen as the “victim” in the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, having to stand backstage, using her voice to support someone else.
However, Yang Peiyi's family did not care about that, they refused to interact with the media. Yang Peiyi was balanced in her studies and pursuing her passion, having a childhood like her peers.
During her school years, Yang Peiyi was very outstanding, participating in academic and international skill competitions. Not only that, she also won a gold medal in athletics at the NEC national athletics competition.
As an adult, Yang Peiyi pursued her studies, occasionally performing on stage to find joy in life and satisfy her passion.
