Perhaps the most prominent figure in the sports history of the Republic of China, Chi Cheng was once hailed as the fastest woman on earth, the yellow lightning, the Asian Meteor, the Iron Woman, and the Flying Antelope of the Orient and still holds the world record in the 50-yard and 220-yard low hurdles. Her outstanding career started at the age of 15, when she won gold medals in the high jump, 80-meter low hurdles, and pentathlon in the Taiwan Area Games. As a result, in 1963, she was awarded a scholarship by the Ministry of Education to receive training and competition experience in the United States. Living up to the expectations of her countrymen, Chi Cheng collected gold medals in the high jump and 100 meters events in the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games held in Bangkok. Her career reached a peak in 1968-69 when she broke six world records and won a bronze medal in the 80-meter low hurdle in the Mexico Olympics. In her efforts to break even more world records, she fractured her leg while competing in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, and was forced to abandon her active running career. At the age of 26, she married her American coach, Vincent Reel, and the two settled in the U.S. On the eve of the 1972 Olympic Games held in Munich, however, the couple decided to return to the Republic of China and dedicate themselves to training promising young athletes. When she took part in the first Asian Track and Field Tournament in Manila in l973 as coach for the ROC team, she acted as spokesman for the Republic of China at the committee meeting of the Asian Sports Federation. With her achievements in international athletics and high standing in sporting circles, she was able almost single-handedly to block an attempt to admit the Communist Chinese into the federation at the expense of the Republic of China. 1976 was a year of disgrace for the International Olympics Committee because Canada, the host country, allowed politics to interfere with sports. Rather than submit to a Canadian demand that it change its name and not fly the national flag, the Republic of China team, led by Chi Cheng, decided to withdraw from the Montreal Olympics. In a press conference held afterwards to justify this action, Chi Cheng said: "I am proud of the Republic of China, just as everyone is proud of his own name. ROC athletes will compete only under their own flag!" In recognition of her important contribution to the development of sports, Chi Cheng was in January 1977 appointed Secretary General of the Republic of China's Track and Field Association, During her two year tenure of office, Chi Cheng significantly upgraded the status of track and field sports in Taiwan. She invited many Olympic athletes and officials of international sports associations to see for themselves that Communist Chinese charges were pure fabrications. In April and September last year she organized international sporting meets to enable local athletes to improve themselves by competing against world-class track and field stars. Because of the interest thus stimulated, it was possible to charge an admission fee--the first time this had been done for a track and field event in Taiwan. With thousands of local fans cheering them on, local athletes were encouraged to put in their best performances. It is hoped that more companies in Taiwan can be persuaded to donate funds for organizing track meets, purchasing equipment, employing competent coaches and establishing training centers. Chi Cheng has put in considerable efforts to change the status of athletics from being a pastime suitable for festivals and holidays, to being an organized affair complete with its own seasons. Under her plan, athletes will train continuously for the four months from March to early July, during which period there will be a succession of track and field competitions. In the past, athletes trained for one meet, and then might have to wait for several months for the next one. During the winter season from the end of November to mid-February, a cross-country season will allow athletes to build up their muscle and stamina. With this seasonal approach, better coaching, and strong support both from the public and the president of the ROC Track and Field Association, Wang Ti-wu, it is expected that Chi Cheng's ideals will be realized in a couple of years, to revolutionize the status of athletics in the Republic of China. With her devotion to her country, it is only natural that Chi Cheng should be interested in politics. "I may run for a seat in the Legislative Yuan in the future," she says. Although no longer an active sportswoman, Chi Cheng is still very much on the go.