In 1932, Liu Changchun won no medals, but he did gain China recognition on the world stage
A year later than expected, the cauldron of the Tokyo Olympic Games was finally lit on Friday and the world's greatest athletes are already inspiring with their extraordinary feats. China's own competitors are off to a typically fast start, with the first gold of the Games going to Yang Qian in the women's 10-metre rifle event.
The country expects huge hauls of medals at every Games these days, but in the past even getting athletes into competition was a monumental achievement. In particular, the memory of Liu Changchun (刘长春) at the Los Angeles Summer Games 89 years ago, is an enduring reminder of how significant Olympic participation has been for China.
The runner did not win any medals (he didn’t even make the finals of his 100- and 200-meter events) but is celebrated as China’s first competitor at the Olympics. As the sole athlete from China to make it to the 1932 Games, Liu became a national hero not only for his historic achievement, but for the patriotism he displayed in the process.
Sam Davies is the deputy managing editor at The World of Chinese. He writes mainly about society, sport, and culture, with his pieces touching on diverse topics from the future of China’s ski industry to efforts to prevent juvenile crime.
