Today In 1960, Tan Howe Liang Became Singapore's First Olympic Medallist 🏋🏻♂️
Sixty four years ago today (8 Sep), history was made. Tan Howe Liang won the silver medal at the Rome Olympic Games, becoming the first Singaporean to stand on the Olympic podium, putting our Little Red Dot on the global sporting map.
Global glory
Tan's journey into the world of weightlifting started in 1952 when he watched a weightlifting competition at Gay World Amusement Park. A year later, he became Singapore’s national junior and senior lightweight champion, setting the stage for an incredible career.
Tan’s drive and determination led him to clinch four gold medals at prestigious events like the Commonwealth Games (1958, 1962), Asian Games (1958), and the inaugural 1959 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games (SEAP) now called the SEA Games. His rise to the top was nothing short of legendary.
Rome 1960: Lifting dreams
At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Tan was up against 35 other athletes in the lightweight category. His standout moment came during the clean and jerk event, where he managed to lift 155 kg – setting a new Olympic record. He missed out on the gold medal, which went to Russia’s Victor Bushuev.
Tan had to battle more than just the weights – three of his lifts were disqualified by the judges, and then, just before the clean and jerk, he suffered cramps in both thighs. However, just half an hour before his next lift, the cramp miraculously disappeared, and Tan went on to break that Olympic record like a boss. 🥈
More than just a medal
Winning Singapore’s first Olympic medal didn’t just bring Tan fame – it also earned him the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) at the 1962 National Day Awards.
Tan’s journey was a true underdog story. He didn’t have the luxury of a coach, and he even had to borrow money to pursue his Olympic dream. It’s safe to say his hard work and determination paid off.
After his historic Olympic silver, Tan went on to claim another Commonwealth Games gold and returned to the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. Even though he bettered his 1960 total by a whopping 20kg, his competitors had also stepped up their game.
Tan at the opening of the Youth Olympic Games Learning Centre in 2008. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A national hero
Though Tan retired from competitive weightlifting in 1967, his achievements weren’t forgotten by the international sports community.
In 1984, he became the first weightlifter to receive the International Weightlifting Federation’s prestigious Gold Award. Five years later, he was honoured with the International Olympic Committee’s Silver Pin.
In 2021, the Tan Howe Liang Excellence Award was introduced by the Singapore Olympic Foundation to recognise graduating student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sport. The 2023 recipients were Maximillian Ang Wei (swimming) and Izaac Quek Yong (table tennis).
Even after hanging up his weights, Tan continued to give back to the sport he loved. He guided future weightlifting champions like Teo Yong Joo and Chua Koon Siong, both of whom went on to win bronze at the Commonwealth Games. Tan’s influence and dedication to the sport ensured that Singapore’s weightlifting scene remained strong long after his retirement.
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