TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese female boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) secured Taiwan's first-ever Olympic boxing gold medal early Sunday (Aug. 11) at the Olympics in Paris. She dominated the 57kg final against 20-year-old Julia Szeremeta, leveraging her height and reach to win by a 5-0 unanimous decision.
After the match, Lin Yu-ting tearfully kissed the ring and celebrated with her coach, Tseng Tzu-chiang (曾自強). She shared her emotional journey, stating, "After hearing our own song and the music started to play, I am thankful that I persevered."
Lin emphasized her focus during the competition, saying, "As a top athlete, it's all about staying focused on the field, just knowing who you're playing against and how to prepare for the next game."
She also highlighted the broader significance of her victory, mentioning, "I think this gold medal is an important milestone not only for me, but for Taiwan, and it proves that we Taiwanese can do it."
Lin reiterated her gratitude for the opportunity to compete, noting, "I'm here for the Olympics because I was invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC, 奧委會), so I just focus on the competition and let my coach take care of the rest."
The Olympic closing ceremony will take place at 3 a.m. Taiwan time tomorrow at the Stade de France. Taiwanese athletes have secured at least seven medals, marking the second-best performance in its history, only behind the 12 medals won at the Tokyo Olympics.