Young Taiwanese athlete leaps to 2012 Olympics

Lin Ching-hsuan, an 18year old university student in Taipei has just qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London in the men’s long jump.

The announcement came after Lin made a jump of 8.11 metres at a track and field competition in Taichung.

To qualify for the Olympic event, athletes must jump at least 8.10 metres, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations. This length qualifies athletes to compete in the B-standard division. The A-standard in the men’s qualifying jump is 8.20 metres.

Before Tuesday, Lin’s previous best jump had been 7.94 metres, which won him a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Youth Track and Field Championships.

By jumping to these standards, Lin has become Taiwan’s first track and field athlete to qualify for the London games.

‘I’ve just given myself the best birthday gift,’ said Lin when celebrating his first jump over 8 metres in his young career.

Lin also became the third Taiwanese athlete to break the 8-metre barrier. His jump of 8.11 metres was the third best in the country’s history.

The national record for the men’s long jump is currently held by Nai Hui-fang who jumped 8.34 metres at the 1993 East Asian games in Shanghai.

Two years later, Chao Chih-kuo jumped 8.16 metres at the National College and University Games.

Track and field has traditionally been one of the country’s weakest events in the international sporting arena. Taiwan has not won an Olympic medal since Chi Cheng won bronze in the 80-metre hurdles in 1968.