許多中國網友深受觸動,紛紛在社交媒體上表達了對她的支持.
"I really admire Fu Yuanhui, for swimming while she was on her period - women can be affected during their periods, especially with period pain... she felt guilty for coming fourth, but Fu Yuanhui we're still very proud of you," user TAO wrote on Sina Weibo.
新浪微博用戶TAO表示："我真的很敬佩傅園慧生理期還去比賽游泳.女性會受到生理期的影響,尤其是痛經的話……中國隊拿了第四,她很內疚.但是傅園慧,我們依然為你驕傲."
Tampons are relatively unknown in China
在中國,衛生棉條少有人知
It's also sparked a discussion about tampons - which are not widely used in China. According to one industry survey, only 2% of women in China use tampons -compared to 42% of US women.
關于衛生棉條的討論也由此引爆.衛生棉條在中國并未得到廣泛使用.一項業內調查顯示,只有2%的中國女性使用衛生棉條,而美國女性的使用比例是42%.
Many women weren't familiar with how to use them, or had not heard of them before, the survey by Cotton Inc said.
美國棉花公司的調查稱,許多女性不熟悉衛生棉條的使用方法,甚至從未聽說過.
"Someone accused Fu of lying, asking how she could have gone in the water on her period," weibo user Dvingnew wrote. "Chinese people have prejudices about tampons - as a woman over 30, I'd been ignorant, and full of fear, about tampons until now too."
微博用戶Dvingnew說："有人指責傅園慧撒謊,問她生理期怎么下水.中國人對衛生棉條懷有偏見.我作為一個三十多歲的女性,直到現在也對它一無所知,心存畏懼."
And there may also be cultural factors at play too - some Chinese women have been told to avoid using tampons because it could stop them from being virgins, despite health experts pointing out that the two things are unrelated.
這可能也有文化因素的作用——一些中國女性被告知不要使用衛生棉條,因為那會破壞處女膜.而健康專家指出,兩者并沒有什么關系.
One poster defending tampons wrote: "Who told you virgins can't use tampons? Come on, it's the 21st Century."
支持使用棉條一方的帖子寫道："誰跟你說處女不可以用棉條的？拜托,這都21世紀了."
According to reports, China's first domestic tampon brand may be launched soon - which may encourage more women to swim while on their periods.
據報道,中國首家本土衛生棉條品牌很快就要成立,這或許能鼓勵更多女性在生理期游泳.
So can menstrual cycles affect sporting performance?
那么,生理期會影響運動表現嗎？
The subject of competing while menstruating is "definitely a taboo", Georgie Bruinvels, a sports scientist, tells the BBC.
