Chinese Taipei at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Chinese Taipei at the
2016 Summer Olympics
IOC codeTPE
NOCChinese Taipei Olympic Committee
Websitewww.tpenoc.net (in Chinese and English)
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors57 in 18 sports
Flag bearers Isheau Wong (opening)[1]
Hsu Shu-ching (closing)[2]
Medals
Ranked 50th
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
3
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Republic of China (1924–1948)

Chinese Taipei competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. "Chinese Taipei" is the designated name used by Taiwan to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, including the Olympic Games. Neither the common name "Taiwan" nor the official name "Republic of China" would be used due primarily to opposition from the People's Republic of China. This was also the region's ninth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee sent a team of 57 athletes, 26 men and 31 women, to compete in 18 sports at the Games.[3] For only the third time in Olympic history, Chinese Taipei roster featured more female athletes than males. Among the sporting events represented by the nation's athletes, Chinese Taipei made its Olympic debut in equestrian jumping and golf (new to the 2016 Games), as well as its return to gymnastics, boxing, and wrestling after more than fifteen years.

World-ranked tennis star Lu Yen-hsun, table tennis players Huang I-hua and London 2012 fourth-place finalist Chuang Chih-yuan, and trap shooter Lin Yi-chun highlighted the list of athletes to make the Chinese Taipei roster for their fourth Olympics. Apart from the veterans, twelve Taiwanese athletes previously competed in London, with weightlifter Hsu Shu-ching leading them as the only medalist to return for her second appearance in Rio de Janeiro. Other notable athletes from Chinese Taipei also featured world's top 30 golfers Candie Kung and Teresa Lu, and lone show jumper Isheau Wong, who eventually served as the nation's second female flag bearer in the opening ceremony (the first having done so in 2008).[1]

Chinese Taipei left Rio de Janeiro with only three medals (one gold and two bronze), a slight improvement on the team's performance at the previous Games. Among the medalists were the women's archery team (led by Tan Ya-ting, who eventually finished among the top eight in the individual recurve), and weightlifters Kuo Hsing-chun (women's 58 kg) and Hsu, who upgraded her silver from London to a golden finish in the women's 53 kg category.[4][5] For the first time in history, Chinese Taipei did not obtain any medals in taekwondo, since the sport was officially added to the Olympic program in 2000.[6]

  1. ^ a b 奧運/開幕式中華代表團掌旗官出爐 由馬術選手汪亦岫擔任 [Isheau Wong will serve as the flag bearer for the Taiwan delegation in the Olympic opening ceremony] (in Chinese). SET Taiwan. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony – Flag Bearers" (PDF). Olympics. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  3. ^ "In review: ROC's long tradition in the Olympics". China Post. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Taiwanese lifter Hsu demands London gold after Rio win". Yahoo Sports. 7 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Taiwan wins first medals in Rio". China Post. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  6. ^ Yeh, Joseph (22 August 2016). "Taiwan leaves Rio with one gold, two bronzes and a few controversies". China Post. Retrieved 24 October 2016.