Taiwan Today

A total of 25,888 swimmers from Taiwan and abroad took part in the cross-Sun Moon Lake swim Sept. 20, marking a new record high for the annual event. Premier Wu Den-yih, who fired the starting pistol to launch the swim, said that the activity has gradually grown in size every year since first being held 27 years ago. More than 50 times more swimmers participated in this year’s swim than in the inaugural event back in 1983. Among the participants were nearly 100 individuals with visual impairments or other physical disabilities. Chen Yung-shen, a member of a Taichung-based association for disabled persons, finished the race in first place for the second straight year by crossing the lake in just over 40 minutes. It was his fifth time taking part in the swim. Chen lost his left leg in an automobile accident 11 years ago. It took him a long time to recover from the tragedy, and his weight shot up to 106 kilograms for a time. Under the encouragement of local physician Chen Zhao-en, an avid swimmer, Chen began training to strengthen his body and lowered his weight to 68 kg. His attitude toward life changed in the process, as he attained contentment in his work, as well as new confidence and vitality. Over the years, the cross-Sun Moon Lake swim has risen in stature to become an international event. Swimmers from several countries, including South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore and the Netherlands, to name a few, joined this year’s activity. Some 1,200 swimmers from around mainland China, including the provinces of Fujian, Yunnan and Zhejiang, also took part. The largest contingent at over 500 swimmers was from the Guangzhou Winter Swimming Association. The members put on a show of sorts for onlookers with their singing and dancing during their warm-up routine on the shore of the lake. Perhaps the most notable participant in Sunday’s event was 80-year-old swimmer Li Jinman from Guangzhou. Li’s wife, 77-year-old Liang Yuhua, joined him in the swim. Li, who has been swimming in the Pearl River since he was a young boy, said taking part in the Sun Moon Lake activity was the happiest moment in his life. The octogenarian stated that “as long as there is no time limit, I can definitely complete the course.”(SB)