"You're kidding me?" state news agency Xinhua wrote (in a now-deleted post) on its official Twitter feed.
"The country which has never finished above China, is about to."
Olympic success is a point of pride for the Communist-run nation and athletes who perform well tend to be widely celebrated in the media.
The ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily was particularly upset with the performance of the Chinese gymnasts, who take home just two bronze medals.
"People cannot but ponder - what on earth is up with them?" it wrote.
