J.K. Rowling helped Chinese Taipei boxer Lin Yu-ting win gold, says coach, who calls IBA ‘a lunatic’
- Tseng Tzu-chiang says Harry Potter author is ‘pride of Taiwan’ after she entered gender row surrounding Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif
Lin Yu-ting managed to maintain her composure in the ring after winning her women’s boxing 57kg final bout against Julia Szeremeta of Poland on Saturday, but she lost it entirely when the gold medal was slipped over her head.
The southpaw from New Taipei City couldn’t hold back her tears on the podium when the Chinese Taipei flag was raised and anthem played at Roland Garros.
In the centre of a gender row since the start of the early rounds of boxing events at the North Paris Arena, Lin produced four straight unanimous-decision wins to claim the first Olympics boxing gold medal for the self-ruled island.
“I was emotional, there were mixed feelings, I felt it all,” she said. “Those scenes I had been through over the years flashed across my mind.
“The memories of me being knocked down, the unwanted noises, the moment I decided to grit my teeth and hold on, the willpower, the process of fighting with oneself, and to the ultimate victory.”
Lin, 28, also said coach Tseng Tzu-chiang had asked her if she could imagine walking into the ring at an Olympics when they were competing at an event in Beijing – her first fight overseas.
