Singapore Olympic hero Tan Howe Liang dies at 91, leaves enduring legacy

Tan Howe Liang, the first Singaporean to win an Olympic medal, died on 3 December 2024 at the age of 91. His silver medal in weightlifting at the 1960 Rome Olympics stood as Singapore’s only Olympic medal for nearly half a century, a testament to his extraordinary achievements in an era with minimal resources for athletes.

In an obituary, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) described Tan as “a sportsman born ahead of his time, chasing sporting glory at a time when a pre-independent, third-world Singapore paid little attention to anything other than economic progress.”

SNOC president Grace Fu, who is also Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, remarked on his lasting influence, saying, “Howe Liang’s achievement has inspired many generations of Singaporeans. Athletes of his generation had much lesser, but they accepted what they had and trained hard. His achievement in Rome goes to show what one can achieve if one simply devotes himself to it.”

Overcoming hardships to achieve greatness

Born in 1933 in Swatow, China, Tan moved to Singapore at the age of four. He grew up in the cramped quarters of Chinatown, and at 14, he lost his father. Before his father’s passing, Tan promised to become one of the strongest men in the world.

This promise fuelled his pursuit of weightlifting. Inspired by a strongman competition at the Gay World Amusement Park, Tan began training seriously in 1952. He joined the Evergreen Weightlifting Party, paying 50 cents a month for training in a back alley near Boat Quay.

Lacking financial support, Tan funded his training and overseas competitions by working as a dockworker, store clerk, and electrician. Despite these challenges, he became a national champion within a year and went on to break the world record in the clean and jerk at the 1958 Commonwealth Games.

The pinnacle of his career

Tan’s crowning moment came at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he won silver in the lightweight division after a grueling, dramatic day.

Rome 1960, the first commercially televised Olympics, marked Italy’s rebirth post-World War II. For Singapore, all eyes were on the weightlifting arena at the Palazzetto dello Sport.

Familiar rivals, including Iran’s Henrik Tamraz and Britain’s Ben Helfgott, competed for the podium, but Tan faced unexpected challenges. His first press attempt of 115kg was controversially ruled faulty, prompting team manager Chua Soo Hock to protest. Though the decision was reversed, further failed attempts left Tan trailing.

During the clean and jerk, his strongest event, disaster struck—debilitating thigh cramps left Tan unable to stand. Against medical advice, he refused to withdraw. Miraculously recovering, Tan returned to lift 155kg on his final attempt, securing the silver medal and setting an Olympic record.

Despite his historic achievement, Tan’s homecoming was subdued—a tea party at the Istana and a dinner hosted by his employers. Yet, his determination and resilience inspired future generations, cementing his legacy as a Singaporean sports icon.

Life after competition

Tan retired from competitive weightlifting after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He dedicated himself to coaching, nurturing a new generation of weightlifters, including SEAP Games medallists Chua Koon Siong and Tung Chye Hong.

Outside of sports, he pursued his passion for cooking, opening a Peking cuisine restaurant in 1977, although the business eventually closed. Later, he worked as a gym supervisor.

Tan’s Olympic achievement inspired Project 0812, a multimillion-dollar initiative aimed at securing Singapore’s next Olympic medals. The programme bore fruit with Singapore’s women’s table tennis team winning medals in 2008 and swimmer Joseph Schooling clinching gold in 2016.

In 2016, Tan was awarded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Diploma of Merit for his contributions to the Olympic movement. IOC member Ng Ser Miang described him as “a constant reminder of what it really means to fight through adversity and persevere.”

A legacy immortalised

Tan’s influence extended beyond sports. His image—teeth clenched, arms straining as he lifted at the 1960 Olympics—remains an enduring symbol of resilience and national pride.

“Mr Tan leaves behind a strong legacy because most weightlifters know who he is. He is still an icon, and a lot of lifters look up to him,” said Tom Liaw, president of the Singapore Weightlifting Federation.

Even in his later years, Tan’s passion for weightlifting remained undiminished. When asked in 1984 if he had grown tired of the sport, he replied, “Weightlifting is in my blood. How can I give it up?”

Tan Howe Liang’s remarkable story of determination and achievement continues to inspire Singaporeans, proving that greatness can emerge even from the humblest beginnings.