CK YANG The only Taiwanese athlete to have ever graced the cover of Sports Illustrated
Long before baseball became the craze of our homeland, Taiwanese athlete C.K. Yang made us all proud when he won Taiwan's first ever Olympic medal. Winning a silver medal in the decathalon during the 1960 Olympics, losing only to close friend and fellow Bruin Rafer Johnson, C.K. Yang left an indelible mark in the sport, cementing his status and claim to "the world's greatest athlete." Also known as the "Iron Man of Asia", Yang was the one-time world record holder in the decathalon.
Yang passed away on Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 74 years old. RIP CK; thanks for being such an inspiration to us all.
5 comments:
RIP
Rest In Peace paisano
Yang was a truely incredible athlete. For those of you who didn't know already, he was a pitcher (and a good one, too) before focusing his attention on track and field. Rest in peace C.K. and thanks for all that you've contributed to the sports world in Taiwan.
Yea, although he was before my time, CK was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of athlete. I held him and Bruce Lee in high regards as a kid growing up.
(Note: the following is excerpted from Two Gold Medal winner, Olympic diver, Dr. Sammy Lee's eulogy to C.K.)
C.K. loved to play golf with me because he knew if he did not keep his head down not only would he not see me, but he would miss the ball!
Last Saturday a giant passed on. What does one say to adequately portray the measure, the fibre & the stature of C.K. ? How does one say goodbye to a legacy? LAST SATURDAY HE TOOK HIS LAST AND MIGHTIEST JUMP LANDING ON TOP OF MT. OLYMPUS TO JOIN BOB MATHIAS, JIM THORPE, JESSE OWENS, FLO JO JOYNER, AND WILMA RUDOLPH WHO WERE CARRYING THEIR FLAMING OLYMPIC TORCHES BY THE GREAT WHITE THRONE. The light from their torches showed their faces as they were when they won their Olympic medals...void of pain and the wrinkles of time.
AS GOD SITTING ON HIS THRONE IS GREETING THEM THERE TOO IS OUR C.K. YANG JUST AS he was when he appeared on the pages of Sports Illustrated along with his adopted brother and competitor Rafer Johnson when they dominated the world of track & field.
But C.K.'s torch was not lighted....it was dark. Bob Mathias, Jesse Owens, and Jim Thorpe knew why because their torches were dark also...they could not light their torches for days, weeks, months and even years because of our worthless tears.
But GOD saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be found , so he put His arms around you and whispered "Come with me." With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away, and though we love you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest. GOD BROKE OUR HEARTS TO PROVE TO US...HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.
Yes, I can hear you say miss me but let me go. Bury your sorrows by doing good deeds.
And Daisy and family...
Today we are the saddest and yet the luckiest people on this planet because C.K.'s footprints are on our hearts now and forever!
Thanks C.K. for what you gave...thanks for what you left...Thanks for being you!
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