Taiwan long jumper wins gold at intercollegiate national games

台灣跳遠選手奪得全國大專校院運動會金牌

Lin Yu-tang leaps 7.78 meters to victory


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Long jumper Lin Yu-tang (林昱堂) took home gold at Taiwan’s National Intercollegiate Athletic Games (NIAG) on Thursday (May 9) in Taichung.

Amidst hot weather and crowds, the long jump finals were held from 9:15 a.m., per Liberty Times. Twenty-three-year-old Lin, representing National Taiwan Sport University, won gold with a jump of 7.78 meters.

“I've never had to wake up this early for a competition before,” the Penghu native jokingly said after the competition, per CNA.

Lin said that domestic or international long jump competitions are usually held in the afternoon or even at night. “But today, I woke up before 7 a.m., and my muscles were still not awake, so my condition was not too good.”

Last week, Lin made his debut at the Diamond League in Suzhou, finishing eighth with a jump of 7.63 meters, per CNA. After a short break back in Taiwan, he participated in the NIAG.

Lin said that he encountered some issues during the Diamond League, so he used the NIAG to make adjustments. Now, he needs to adjust his steps because the speed during the run-up does not translate into the feeling of takeoff, he explained.

At the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, Lin jumped 8.4 meters, qualifying him for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.