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Oun Yao-ling

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Oun Yao-ling
Personal information
Native name項耀林
NationalityTaiwanese
Born (1940-02-11) 11 February 1940 (age 84)
Germany
Alma materStuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences
Sport
SportWeightlifting

Oun Yao-ling (traditional Chinese: 項耀林; simplified Chinese: 项耀林; pinyin: Xiàng Yàolín; born 11 February 1940), also known as Günter Wu, is a Taiwanese weightlifter. He competed in the men's heavyweight event at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he placed 14th.[1] Born and raised in Germany, Oun visited Taiwan for the first time at the age of 24 to train for the Olympics as a member of the Taiwanese team. He set three national records at the 18th World Games in 1965.[clarification needed]

Biography

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Oun Yao-ling was born in Germany.[2] He is also known as Günter Wu.[3] His father, Oun Ting-zhai (Chinese: 項廷齋), is from Zhejiang's Qingtian County, while his mother is from Germany.[4] Oun has four sisters.[5] The family initially operated a large perfume store in East Germany but escaped to West Germany after the communist government seized the business.[4][5] The family left their house, cars, and most of their belongings in East Germany, taking only a few things with them.[5] The family began running the Chinese restaurant Nanjing Restaurant (南京酒樓) in Braunschweig. While studying textile chemistry at the Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences, Oun assisted at the restaurant during holiday breaks.[4] He graduated from the university in 1964.[5]

Oun began weightlifting in 1959 and learned from the West German weightlifter Moller[vague] (摩勒). He initially could lift a little above 170 kilograms (370 lb). In May 1963, he lifted 412.5 kilograms (909 lb), breaking the West German record.[5] Oun became the German champion in the heavyweight division after lifting a total of 440 kilograms (970 lb) in three lifts. Although the German Weightlifting Association[clarification needed] (德國舉重協會) recommended that he obtain German citizenship and compete on the German national team at the Olympics, he kept rejecting the offer.[6] He was living in Germany in 1963. Around that year, he sent a letter to Yang Sen, the president of the Republic of China Sports Federation [zh], offering to compete for Taiwan at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[6] Huang Chi-lu [zh], the Minister of Education, met Oun on a visit to Germany. According to Huang, Oun told Huang that he had to consume either beans or two pounds of meat daily. Huang asked him what the monthly cost of this diet was, and Oun responded it was 200 German marks. Huang approved that Oun would get a monthly public allowance of 500 marks.[7] Referring to Chen Cheng, Huang said, "I have told Vice President Chen about this, and he agrees very much." Huang said he hoped Oun would compete in the Olympics for Taiwan which would cover his airfare.[8]

On 1 August 1964, Yang Sen's committee approved Oun to compete for Taiwan in the 1964 Summer Olympics in the heavyweight weightlifting event.[9] Oun flew to Taipei on 29 October 1964 to train for the Olympics.[5] It was his first time in Taiwan.[10] His cousin, brother-in-law, and six nephews, who lived in Taiwan, met him after he arrived at Songshan Airport.[5] Oun could not speak Mandarin Chinese. He felt embarrassed during training sessions when—unable to understand the coach's instructions—he turned in a different, wrong direction from his teammates. Fellow weightlifter Yang Chuan-kwang began teaching him Mandarin.[11] Oun competed in the men's heavyweight event at the Olympics. In the clean and press, he lifted 140 kilograms (310 lb) on his first try and 147.5 kilograms (325 lb) on his second try but failed to lift 150.5 kilograms (332 lb) on his third try. In the snatch, he lifted 135 kilograms (298 lb) on his first try, 140 kilograms (310 lb) on his second, and 145 kilograms (320 lb) on his third. In the clean and jerk, he lifted 162.5 kilograms (358 lb) on his first try and 167.5 kilograms (369 lb) on his second try. On his third try, he failed to lift 172.5 kilograms (380 lb). He placed 14th in the event with a total score of 460 kilograms (1,010 lb).[12] When Oun returned to Taiwan after the Olympics, he and fellow Olympian Yang Chuan-kwang visited President Chiang Kai-shek and First Lady Soong Mei-ling at the Shilin Official Residence.[13] Oun said of the meeting, "Being able to meet President Chiang and his wife is truly an invaluable experience during my return to the country. I am so excited and deeply moved today!"[14]

At the 18th World Games (世運會) in 1965,[clarification needed] Oun set three national records: a heavyweight snatch of 325.25 kilograms (717.1 lb), a heavyweight clean and jerk of 319.5 kilograms (704 lb), and a heavyweight total of 1,014 kilograms (2,235 lb).[15]

In 1969, Oun was asked to compete in the South African Games, but the opportunity was rescinded once the organisers found out he was of Chinese origin and not white.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Oun Yao-ling Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  2. ^ "中華國手鬥志鬆懈 昨晚遭光華隊擊敗 我參加世運選手今集訓 世運火炬昨抵加爾各答" [Chinese National Team's Fighting Spirit Wanes. Last Night Defeated by Guanghua Team. Athletes Participating in World Games Gather for Training; World Games Torch Arrives in Kolkata Yesterday]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 30 August 1964. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Oun Yao-Ling". Olympedia. 4 May 2024. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "舉重國手項耀林 假期充任大廚司" [Weightlifting National Team Member Oun Yao-ling Takes on Chef Role During Holiday]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 11 September 1964. p. 2.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Yang, Wei 楊蔚 (30 September 1964). "項耀林昨返抵祖國 決心努力為國爭光" [Oun Yao-ling Returned to His Homeland Yesterday, Determined to Work Hard for His Country's Glory]. United Daily News (in Chinese). p. 3.
  6. ^ a b "我接受差隆塞邀請 決參加亞洲盃拳賽 第五屆羽球賽昨天揭幕 滑雪代表選拔接受報名 旅德華僑項耀林 舉重紀錄冠全德 兩度致函全國體協會 願代表祖國出席世運" [I Accept the Invitation from Chalonsey to Participate in the Asian Cup Boxing Competition; The 5th Badminton Tournament Kicked Off Yesterday; Skiing Team Selection Now Open for Registration; Overseas Chinese in Germany, Oun Yao-ling, Sets Weightlifting Record for All of Germany; Has Written Twice to the National Sports Association, Willing to Represent the Motherland at the World Games.]. United Daily News (in Chinese). 19 October 1963. p. 2.
  7. ^ "團體越野賽今晨出發 羽球賽晚間閉幕頒獎 旅德華僑舉重選手項耀林 教部給公費每月五百馬克" [Group Cross-Country Race Kicks Off This Morning; Badminton Competition Concludes with Awards Ceremony Tonight; Overseas Chinese Weightlifter Oun Yao-ling in Germany Receives Government Subsidy of 500 Marks per Month]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 20 October 1963. p. 2.
  8. ^ "黃季陸談訪歐觀感" [Huang Chi-lu talks about his impressions of visiting Europe]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 22 October 1963. p. 2.
  9. ^ "我參加世運團人數 決定八十三人 田徑隊楊傳廣等四人確定入選 體育考察團即接受申請" [Number of Participants in the World Games Determined to be 83; Four Members of the Athletics Team, Including Yang Chuan-kwang, Confirmed for Selection; Sports Delegation Now Accepting Applications]. United Daily News (in Chinese). 2 August 1964. p. 2.
  10. ^ "楊傳廣夫婦 將參觀省運" [Yang Chuan-kwang and His Wife to Attend the Provincial Games]. United Daily News (in Chinese). 26 October 1964. p. 3.
  11. ^ Ji, Cheng-jin 吉承進 (12 October 1964). "項耀林 惡補國語 拜師鐵人" [Oun Yao-ling Intensifies Mandarin Studies with the Help of a Mentor]. United Daily News (in Chinese). p. 3.
  12. ^ Ji, Cheng-jin 吉承進 (19 October 1964). "我選手項耀林 抓舉成績最好 名列第十四遭受淘汰 俄獲重量級舉重金牌 【本報世運採訪記者吉承進東京十八日專電】" [Our athlete Oun Yao-ling achieves the best results in weightlifting but is eliminated in fourteenth place; Russia wins gold in heavyweight weightlifting.]. United Daily News (in Chinese). p. 3.
  13. ^ "最難忘歡欣歲月 楊傳廣依依去國 繼續留美‧求學就業 每年一歸‧重申前諾" [Unforgettable Joyful Years: Yang Chuan-kwang Bids Farewell to the Country, Continues Studies and Work in the U.S., Returns Annually to Reaffirm His Commitment]. United Daily News (in Chinese). 4 November 1964. p. 3.
  14. ^ "領袖撫慰國手 偉人關切鐵人 蔣總統伉儷昨曾召見 楊傳廣夫婦及項耀林" [Leaders Comfort National Athletes: Great Figures Show Concern for Ironmen. President Chiang and His Wife Summoned Yang Chuan-kwang and His Wife, as well as Oun Yao-ling Yesterday]. United Daily News (in Chinese). 4 November 1964. p. 3.
  15. ^ "游泳舉重射擊三項 十二項新紀錄審定 全國體協召開聯席會議 主亞運籌備會早日成立" [Swimming, Weightlifting, and Shooting: Twelve New Records Approved National Sports Association Holds Joint Meeting; Early Establishment of Asian Games Preparation Committee Proposed]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 28 January 1965. p. 2.
  16. ^ Blutstein, Harry (2021). Games of Discontent: Protests, Boycotts, and Politics at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Montreal: McGill–Queen's University Press. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-0-2280-0675-6. Retrieved 26 October 2024 – via Google Books.
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