Lin Yu-Ting won in boxing Olympic gold medal in Paris. In the final of the 57 kg competition she defeated Julia Szeremeta. Fight in the ring is one thing, but a huge fuss broke out around the Taiwanese due to biological tests.
A year ago, the International Boxing Federation (IBA) disqualified Yu-Ting from the world championships after results The tests allegedly revealed that she had XY chromosomes. However, the IOC did not consider these results as binding and the athlete was allowed to compete in the Paris Games, but immediately afterwards she was tested again and in a little over two months we will know the results.
The Lin Yu-Ting medal has several meanings
Polish journalist Tomasz Śniedziewski, who lives in Taiwan, tells Sport.pl that the boxer's success in the French capital is of great importance to the Taiwanese on several levels. – Not only because of the sport, the gold medal at the games, but also because of the criticism that has been poured on the competitor due to the controversies that have arisen around her in the West. In addition, there is the geopolitical situation of Taiwan. The island functions as a country, it has its own army, currency and economy. However, China has been making territorial claims for years, and is also trying to remove Taiwan from the international public space – indicates Śniedziewski.
Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, is not recognized by part of the international community. Supported by the United States, it is trying to resist pressure from Beijing, which would like to subjugate the areas inhabited by the Taiwanese.
The Polish journalist adds: – That is why every sports event is treated by the islanders as an arena to show their existence, independence. And in these circumstances, when attempts were also made to undermine Lin's result as a woman, she gained recognition among the residents of the country not only as athletebut also a role model. She accepts this turmoil with great calm.
“Taiwan's Daughter”
Our interviewee recalls an interview that Lin Yu-Ting gave to local media right after returning to the country. “She said that she wears her hair short because it's more convenient for her to train that way, and when she sometimes goes to the toilet and someone asks her if she's in the wrong cubicle, she explains that she's a woman. She explains her situation without much emotion. The way she accepted hate and slander inspired the Taiwanese. The president and local politicians even called her the “Daughter of Taiwan”. She has become a national heroine,” she says.
The boxer won one of two gold medals for the country in Paris. The other was won by the badminton pair Lee Wang and Wang Chin-lin. However, due to the recent gender studies, it is not certain whether the Olympic gold will not ultimately be taken from Lin Yu-Ting at the expense of Julia Sheremets.