TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese artistic gymnast Tang Chia-hung (唐嘉鴻), nicknamed "King of Cats," will attempt his second Olympic challenge on Saturday (July 27), after suffering from a serious Achilles tendon rupture in 2023.
Forced to withdraw from the Chengdu Universiade and the Hangzhou Asian Games, Tang's perseverance has paid off under the meticulous guidance of coach Weng Shih-hang (翁士航), allowing him to compete in this year’s Paris Olympics just seven months after his injury.
Tang expressed his emotional journey in a recent interview, saying, “When I injured my foot last year, I felt utterly hopeless and wondered if it was the end for me. Since my Achilles injury, I've experienced so much, and have a lot to share.” Tang also highlighted his daily routine of watching videos to monitor his progress.
Weng, Tang’s coach, emphasized their close relationship and shared goal of winning gold, stating, “I think, as his coach, I should be with him 24/7, even to the extent of media speculation of our relationship. Or else, it would be hard to heal his emotional wounds.”
In the Tokyo Olympics, Lee Chih Kai (李智凱) secured Taiwan's first-ever silver medal in gymnastics with his outstanding performance on the pommel horse. However, due to injury, Lee will not compete in Paris, placing Taiwan's medal hopes on Tang.
Tang will participate in the qualifying rounds at 5 p.m. Taiwan time on Saturday. If successful, he will compete in the finals on Aug. 5 at 7:31 p.m.
Meanwhile, Ting Hua-tien (丁華恬), dubbed the "Gymnast Genie," began gymnastics training at age 4, and made history by winning Taiwan's first gold medal in the balance beam at the 2019 Asian Gymnastics Championships.
After becoming the first Taiwanese female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics at 18, Ting aims to perform a 6.2-difficulty routine in the Paris Olympics, emphasizing the importance of rhythm and fluidity. “Connecting movements is all about rhythm, so training that aspect is crucial,” Ting said.
Her coach, Tsai Heng-cheng (蔡恆政), expressed hope for a strong performance, noting, “I want everyone in Taiwan to feel proud when they watch her compete.”
Ting will compete on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Taiwan time, aiming to continue Taiwan's gymnastics success on the world stage.