TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) made history on early Sunday (Aug. 11) by winning Taiwan's first Olympic gold medal in boxing. Lin's victory at the Olympics has garnered widespread international media coverage, breaking gender barriers amid controversy.
In a post-match interview, Lin expressed her gratitude for the attention and highlighted her future plans, stating, "This kind of thing happens all over the world, and I'm just lucky enough to have gotten a lot of attention, and for me, when I return to Taiwan, I'm going to engage in anti-bullying-related public service."
However, Lin's triumph came under weeks-long gender row. British author J.K. Rowling repeatedly questioned Lin's gender, igniting a global debate. Lin's coach, Tseng Tzu-chiang (曾自強), protected her from the controversy by only revealing some details of the updates.
Lin emphasized the importance of staying focused during competitions. "As an outstanding athlete, I think it's critical to take a social media break to stay focused on the field during competition," she shared.
The Olympics women's boxing event faced significant controversy due to gender disputes. The International Boxing Association (IBA, 國際拳總) accused Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif of "gender test abnormalities." However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC,奧委會) supported their eligibility, citing a lack of evidence.
Taiwan's Sports Administration, under the Ministry of Education, announced on Friday that it would discuss potential legal actions against the IBA with athletes, lawyers, and the IOC.