Chen Wen-pu Wins Gold in Men''s 100m at NIAG, Laments: "Am I Overrated?"

Taiwanese track and field athlete Chen Wen-pu clinched the gold medal in the men''s 100-meter final at the 115th National Intercollegiate Athletic Games (NIAG) today with a time of 10.35 seconds. Despite the victory, he expressed deep frustration as he has yet to meet the qualification standard for the Asian Games. Reflecting on the immense pressure he has faced over the past six months, he lamented, "Am I overrated?"

Standing 187 cm tall and aged 26, Chen possesses exceptional physical attributes. At last year''s National Games, he clocked a wind-aided 9.95 seconds. While not official, technical staff estimated that under legal wind conditions, he likely would have broken the national record of 10.11 seconds. Since then, Chen has been in the media spotlight, often approached by young fans for photos. His silver-medal performance in the indoor 60-meter dash this February, where he broke the national record, further raised his self-expectations.

However, his performance has stagnated over the last half-year, remaining short of the 10.18-second standard for the Nagoya Asian Games. Chen appeared dejected during an interview with CNA: "My recent training hasn''t been good. I feel frustrated, and I can''t find my rhythm. Sometimes I wonder if I''m just overrated." He mentioned that while there isn''t a single source of pressure, he feels easily agitated and mentally exhausted. Chen prefers relying on family, his girlfriend, and movies for emotional support rather than seeking professional counseling. Currently nursing a psoas muscle injury, he is reconsidering his participation in an upcoming event in Osaka to rest and focus on the New Taipei International Athletics Open in June, hoping to find a breakthrough while competing alongside veteran sprinter Yang Chun-han.