Nagoya Asian Games: Taiwan's Butterfly King Wang Guan-hong Makes History! After Winning Gold in 200m Butterfly, This Is What He Most Wants to Do

"Taiwan's Butterfly King" Wang Guan-hong triumphed today in the men's 200m butterfly final at the Nagoya Asian Games, securing a historic gold medal. After crossing the finish line, he raised his arms in jubilation within the pool. Reflecting post-race, he admitted, "Honestly, it still feels very unreal. I couldn't sleep yesterday or this afternoon."

Wang revealed that he had been struggling with lower back pain prior to the event. Just days before the race, he suddenly sustained an injury diagnosed by doctors as acute tendonitis. "When I heard the diagnosis, I was really nervous. My coach, my physical therapist—everyone was anxious and somewhat at a loss," he recalled.

Despite the sudden setback, Wang reminded himself to stay calm and treat it as a test from fate. "I've prepared for so long—I just needed to give it my all and go for it. I'm deeply grateful to my coach, my physiotherapist, and everyone who supported me, constantly giving me confidence and telling me to believe in myself," he said.

Having narrowly missed gold in several major competitions before, Wang described this Asian Games race as "the most beautiful competition of my life." He admitted there had always been a hurdle he couldn't overcome: "In big events, I'd always fall just short, perform poorly, and end up second place."

Training sessions were grueling, and he confessed to having considered quitting multiple times. "Swimmers know how tough butterfly training is—and you're often alone in your lane. In major competitions, all the pressure, atmosphere, and emotions weigh entirely on you," he shared.

Wang also acknowledged that he isn't someone who easily expresses emotions, causing stress to build up over time. "After today's race, everything has finally been released," he said emotionally.

His family, coach, teammates, and fans all came to cheer him on, making him feel right at home. "All the people who support me, love me, and care about me are here. During the race, I just went all out—didn't overthink, didn't hesitate. I carried the spirit of courage and fought with everything I had," he said.

Wang led the race from start to finish, though he joked that he "almost swam with my eyes closed," fully focused on executing his own rhythm. After the morning preliminaries, his coach told him he had a real chance in the final—if he stayed focused on himself and managed his pace.

"My coach told me, 'Just focus on your own lane,'" Wang recalled. Once in the water, he pushed forward relentlessly, only realizing he was in the lead at the 150-meter mark. "From there, I just gritted my teeth and powered through to the finish."

As Wang continues to rewrite Taiwan's men's swimming records at the Asian Games, he hopes to pass on his experience to younger athletes: "Let them know it's not impossible—believe in yourself."

Although his physical condition prevented him from competing in relay events this time, he remains hopeful that Taiwanese athletes will continue striving together in both individual and relay races to elevate the entire team.

When asked about his next goal, Wang laughed and said he hasn't thought that far ahead yet. "Honestly, I just want to relax properly first."

So what does he most want to do after winning gold? Rubbing his back, he joked, "My back is a bit sore," then revealed his plan: "I want to go eat some wagyu beef"—a delicious way to celebrate a hard-earned victory.