Taiwan's first Olympic medalist Yang Chuan-kwang dies

Taiwan's first Olympic medalist Yang Chuan-kwang died Sunday at the age of 74, the state Central News Agency reported.

Yang, who won silver in the men's decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics, died of a brain hemorrhage three days after he suffered a stroke and was admitted to hospital near his son's home near Los Angeles, the agency said.

Yang, born in 1933 to the indigenous Ami Tribe, showed an early proficiency in athletics. His coach discovered his talent and introduced him to the decathlon, and after two months of training in the event, Yang competed in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila. He scored 5,454 points and won a gold medal for Taiwan, earning the nickname "Asian Iron Man."

Four years later, Yang went to Japan for the 1958 Asian games, where he won not only another gold medal but also the ROC government's support for further studies at the University of California at Los Angeles.

In 1960, Yang took silver at the Rome Olympics after a duel with his UCLA schoolmate Rafer Johnson of the United States. It was the first Olympic medal Taiwan had ever won.

In 1963, Yang set a final world record of 9,121 points in California before the grading formula for the decathlon was changed.

In response to Yang's death, Premier Su Tseng-chang said he felt sorry to hear of the bad news, adding that he has instructed the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to organize an ad hoc committee to handle the funeral affairs and grant Yang some sort of appropriate honor.

Su said that Yang's outstanding achievements in the decathlon in international arenas made him a national hero. The premier expressed the hope that all nationals can learn from Yang's sportsmanship and support sports activities.

A spokesman with the Department of Information & Cultural Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said yesterday that the ministry would immediately contact the family members of Yang to assist them in handling relevant affairs.

Meanwhile, Chi Cheng, who won the bronze medal at the 80-meter low hurdles in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City and nicknamed the "Flying Antelope of the East," yesterday lamented at a press conference that the death of Yang is not only a loss of great athletic talent for Taiwan but also a great loss of the entire Chinese people

Chi said she had known Yang for over 50 years, and the memories of their joint efforts in the Rome Olympics have remained fresh to her.

Chi cited the remarks made by Yang's wife Daisy Chou as saying that Yang hoped to have his remains buried at the national track and field training center in Tsoying, Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

Chi said Yang had his wish come true when the government built an indoor track and field gymnasium at the Tsoying center, adding that Yang regretted failing to find successors in the decathlon.