Never Give Up

“Straighten your legs!” “Get down lower!” Next to the pulling area, Kuo Sheng loudly gives directions, demanding that each movement be rigorously precise.

After taking over as coach of the Jingmei Girls High School (JGHS) tug-of-war team in 2003, Kuo led them to multiple gold medals, including at indoor events in Italy (2010) and Ireland (2014), outdoor tournaments in South Africa (2010), Switzerland (2012) and Sweden (2016), and at the 2017 World Games in Poland. He ­really lived up to the nickname “gold medal coach.” 

However, in 2018 he was struck by a drunk driver while cycling up to Wuling Pass, and suffered serious injury to his cervical vertebrae. Multiple doctors declared that he would be fully paralyzed for life. But he didn’t give up, and struggled through painful rehabilitation to go from being only able to move his fingers to standing on his own again. Huang Yun-chin, JGHS principal at that time, invited Kuo to return to his post as team coach, giving his life renewed direction. Seeing the pullers training so hard gave him even greater motivation for his own rehabilitation. He returned step by step, advancing from needing to speak through a microphone to being able to vigorously call out commands as he does today. With his never-say-die attitude, he became the ultimate role model for his athletes. 

Coach Kuo Sheng suggests that kids get much more from tug-of-war than the glory of world titles—they also come away with good attitudes, discipline, and the ability to deal with the challenges of life.

Despite having been badly injured in a road accident, Kuo Sheng has displayed the never-give-up spirit of his tug-of-war teams and recovered from full paralysis. His presence at road-running events for charity provides his pullers with ideal leadership by example. 

(courtesy of JGHS tug-of-war team)

Coach Kuo is particular about every detail of the tug-of-war, making high demands on his pullers and maximizing their mental toughness.

The members of the Jingmei Girls High School tug-of-war team act as a single unit with uniform movements and steps, gripping the rope with an imposing show of strength.

Kuo Sheng (first left) has led teams at various international competitions and won countless championships, earning his nickname “gold medal coach.” (courtesy of Chinese Taipei Tug of War Association)