'Thank you, China!' Iraqi athlete amazed by online fame

Iraqi athlete Maryam Abdulelah has expressed her gratitude to China and Chengdu after becoming a surprise hit on Chinese social media and enjoying a warm welcome at the FISU World University Games.

Abdulelah, who competed in the women's high jump, became an instant online hit when she led the Iraqi delegation out as the team's flagbearer during the opening ceremony on July 28. Her photogenic looks caught the attention of netizens, generating a series of trending topics across several platforms.

One of the most popular hashtags — "Iraqi flagbearer is astonishingly beautiful" — was viewed over 79 million times on Weibo up until last weekend, with fans welcoming Abdulelah to China and wishing her the best in the comments sections.