\Tan Howe Liang: Singapore's First Olympic Medalist

Tan Howe Liang was a man of many firsts. He was the first Singaporean to win an Olympic medal, the first to win a weightlifting medal for Singapore, and the first to win a medal in any sport at the Olympic Games. He achieved all this at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he won a silver medal in the lightweight division.
Born in China in 1933, Tan Howe Liang moved to Singapore with his family when he was a child. He began weightlifting at the age of 16, and quickly showed promise. In 1958, he won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Tokyo, and in 1959, he won the silver medal at the World Championships in Warsaw.
At the 1960 Olympics, Tan Howe Liang was one of the favorites to win a medal. He did not disappoint, lifting a total of 357.5 kg to finish second behind Viktor Bushuev of the Soviet Union. Tan Howe Liang's medal was a major achievement for Singapore, and it helped to put the country on the map in the world of sports.
After the Olympics, Tan Howe Liang continued to compete in weightlifting for several years. He won a bronze medal at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, and a silver medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He retired from weightlifting in 1966, and was inducted into the Singapore Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
Tan Howe Liang passed away in 2024 at the age of 91. He is remembered as one of Singapore's greatest athletes, and his legacy continues to inspire young people around the world.

Tan Howe Liang's achievement was all the more remarkable considering the challenges he faced. Singapore was a young nation in 1960, and it had yet to make its mark in the world of sports. Tan Howe Liang's medal helped to change that, and it paved the way for future generations of Singaporean athletes.
Tan Howe Liang was a true pioneer, and his legacy will continue to inspire Singaporeans for generations to come.