The Tokyo Olympic Games this past summer put a fire in the soul of every Taiwanese. They also marked a point in Lin Yun-ju’s career where he went from ­being known only among the top table tennis athletes to becom­ing a household name.

Shy and humble on screen, this young athlete was his usual relaxed and unstoppable self in the 2021 ­National Games following the Tokyo Olympics. When his epic Olympic battle with top Chinese player Fan Zhendong was mentioned in an interview during a break between matches, his eyes lit up as if he were ­re­living the match. Despite his generally reticent ­nature, he made a rare statement, saying, “I was in the zone during that match.”

The so-called “zone,” or “flow” as it is known in psycho­logy, is a state of utter concentration. Athletes in the zone perform at the top of their game, experiencing a slowing of time and becoming completely absorbed in the task at hand.

It seems that Lin expresses himself most naturally with a paddle in his hand, rather than as a public figure in the spotlight.

Lin Yun-ju (right) began playing table tennis in the third grade. Despite his shorter stature, he had a good feel for the ball and quick reflexes, both of which his coach held in high regard. (courtesy of Lin’s childhood coach)

Table tennis prodigy

Lin’s fourth-place finish in Tokyo tied the best perform­ance by a Taiwanese athlete in Olympic men’s ­singles table tennis. He is currently ranked fifth in the world despite his youth. He has also defeated table tennis giants such as Chinese players Fan Zhendong and Ma Long, and German players Timo Boll and Dimitrij Ovtcharov. He has been dubbed the “silent assas­sin” due to his calm composure on the court.

Unlike most other table tennis athletes, who start playing at four or five years of age, Lin got a relatively late start, having begun playing as a third grader. That year, he was able to sample a variety of sports in a ball sport camp held by National Ilan University, where his dad taught. He was drawn to table tennis since it did not have the height and strength requirements of basket­ball and badminton.

In little more than a year, Lin went on a winning streak, coming out on top in a number of domestic singles competitions. At age 14, he officially became a member of the national team, the youngest player to ever do so.

Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-ching made a name for themselves after winning the Olympic bronze medal in mixed doubles. (courtesy of the Sports Administration, Ministry of Education)

Success is the fruit of labor

Hailed as a table tennis prodigy, with some even claiming him to be “the best Taiwanese player in two decades” and “the talent of the century,” what most do not know is that Lin works considerably harder than his peers.

On a typical day, Lin has technical training from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a simple meal and a rest. He then continues training from 3 to 8 p.m., with strength and conditioning exercises later in the even­ing. This is difficult for Wu Chien-liang, Lin’s physical therap­ist, who must stay with him during training. “It’s usually almost 11 by the time I get home at night.”

Due to the high intensity of the training, most athletes will have just one training partner. However, Lin has two training partners in his support team so they can take turns training with him. Training partner Huang Yu-jen notes Lin’s strong willpower and sense of responsibility. “He is very hardworking for an athlete of his age,” he says.

To dominate the court, Lin does not only rely on his hard work, technique, and strength. More often than not, his strategy is what decides the outcome of a match. For Yang Heng-wei, Lin’s other training partner and fellow national team member, the greatest advantage of playing with Lin is the meticulously planned training, which has a clear purpose. They never train mindlessly, instead focusing on how to use their brains to anticipate each ball. Despite its physic­ally taxing ­nature, their training is meaningful and rewarding, keeping them mentally refreshed.

Lin has a versatile playing style, with this image showing his special backhand flick. (courtesy of the Sports Administration, Ministry of Education)

Model sportsman

Lin’s polite demeanor always leaves a lasting impres­sion. Most notably, when asked by a reporter about his assessment of opponent Fan Zhendong ­after their semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics, he replied, “Who am I to assess him?” Lin’s modesty ­received instant and overwhelming critical acclaim from fans worldwide. In Taiwan, he is known affection­ately as “Little Lin” and “Taiwan’s golden child.”

Outside of appearing at public events, Lin has shown no interest in promoting his public image. He seldom posts on Facebook, and only has a few photos on his Insta­gram.

As a passage in Confucius’s Analects says, “Focusing on physical qualities over refinement results in churlish­ness. Focusing on refinement over physical qualities results in pedantry. Only a well-balanced amalgamation of the two will result in a man of virtue.” This saying is also apt when describing athletes. Olympic athletes are the absolute best in their respect­ive fields, but winning the hearts of the audience is not always about who emerges victorious. It is more often about who plays with the most grit and style. As for finding an athlete with exceptional character, refine­ment, and skill, look no further than the verit­able man of virtue, Lin Yun-ju.

Focused and composed on the court, Lin is rather easy-going in private. He enjoys sharing the joy of winning with his team and growing alongside them.