《紅土丘上的鬥魂》郭泰源

「棒球不單只是運動而已，棒球是靈魂的事業。」

“Baseball is more than just a sport. It’s a career that requires the dedication of your soul.”

　郭泰源，台灣棒球迷心中永遠的「東方特快車」。他曾被日本球迷公認為史上最強的「助拳手」，日本球評讚許為「控球藝術家」。1983年奧運棒球資格賽一役，中華代表隊投手郭泰源創下一天連投17局，連勝韓日完封無失分的紀錄，讓台灣取得奧運門票；1984年，台灣棒球第一次挺進奧運，郭泰源投出了158KM球速震驚世界，不僅讓世界看到台灣，郭泰源的人生自此也有了重大轉變。

Tai-yuan Kuo is the forever “Oriental Express” in the minds of Taiwanese baseball fans. He was widely recognized by Japanese fans as the most powerful supporting player of all time, and Japanese critics acclaimed him as a ball control artist. In the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 1983, he pitched two shutouts against Korea and Japan with then-record-setting 17 consecutive scoreless innings in one single day, lifting Taiwan into the Olympics. In 1984, the Chinese Taipei baseball team made its first Olympic appearance. A blistering 158 km/h fastball pitched by Kuo stunned the world, which made Taiwan visible to the world and greatly changed Kuo’s life as well.

　1985年，郭泰源加盟日本職棒，他被稱為締造西武王朝的台灣英雄。在日本奮鬥13年受到偶像級的待遇，但他從未迷失自我。從西武隊退休時，面對日本職棒球團競相邀約加入教練團，他選擇將所學貢獻台灣。郭泰源認為：棒球不單只是運動，棒球是靈魂的事業，也是面對人生的智慧和哲學。做為投手，郭泰源自信而霸氣，勇於和對手正面對決，在球場上，他臉上永遠沒有多餘表情，腦中則運轉著控球策略。做為教練，他絕對信任選手，教導球員享受比賽過程，鼓勵球員堅持自己的信念。在郭泰源心中，棒球比賽的勝負只是結果，但建立一個彼此信任且拚搏的團隊，才能真正向世界展現台灣精神，他讓我們看到競技運動存在著更珍貴且超越輸贏的價值。

In 1985, Kuo signed with Nippon Professional Baseball, and was seen as a hero from Taiwan who helped create the Seibu Dynasty. Although idolized during his 13 years in Japan, he never lost himself. On his retirement from the Seibu Lions, many professional baseball teams in Japan were eager to welcome him to the coaching staff, and yet he chose to contribute his experience to Taiwan. Kuo thinks that baseball is more than just a sport. It is a career that requires the dedication of your soul. Also, it is wisdom and philosophy that can be applied to your life. As a pitcher, Kuo is confident and aggressive, not afraid to confront the hitter with fastballs. He always wears a poker face on the court, and keeps working on better pitching strategies. As a coach, he trusts his players completely, teaches them to enjoy the game, and encourages them to stand firm on their own beliefs. In Kuo’s mind, winning or losing is just the result of a baseball game. What matters most is for team members to build trust in each other and be willing to fight for the same goal. This is the demonstration of what we call the “spirit of Taiwan.” He has shown to us the precious value of competitive sports that goes beyond winning and losing. 

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《揹著國旗的鬥魂》紀政

「全世界因為你，認識你的國家。全世界的人都知道你來自台灣，來自中華民國。」

“Because of you, people around the world get to know your country. They know you’re from Taiwan—from the Republic of China.”

　「飛躍的羚羊」紀政的生命歷程，是台灣一甲子以來，社會發展與國際處境的寫照。她的輝煌年代，正是台灣外交陷入最險惡困境的時代，她為當時沮喪的台灣人帶來希望，也讓全世界認識了美麗寶島台灣。

The life story of Cheng Chi, nicknamed the “Flying Antelope,” is the manifestation of Taiwan’s social development and international relations during the past sixty years. While she was in her athletic prime, Taiwan was reaching its diplomatic nadir. She brought hope to discouraged Taiwanese people and introduced Formosa, the beautiful Taiwan Island, to the whole world.

　美國人曾經稱她是「地球上跑得最快的女人」，但1970年亞運，她因傷被迫從此退出世界田徑場，全台灣人民齊悵然。當台灣運動界因外交受阻，同時也受到國際奧委會的打壓，台灣選手頓失舞台，她以一己之力，為台灣體壇赴英國倫敦打國際官司，經過艱辛奮鬥，最後以「中華‧台北」名義，替台灣保住彌足珍貴的國際運動空間。數度從絢爛的高空掉入幽暗的谷底，憑藉著拒絕屈服與向前看的運動員性格，她始終選擇正向，做為努力及再出發的目標。她曾說：「一個人可以失掉財富、愛情，但是如果失去了勇氣，一切都完了。」如今，年過七十，她仍投身公益、推廣健走 “行” 銷台灣，用雙腳走遍台灣和全世界，用國旗成就最美麗的風景，也藉此走出台灣的國際困境。

The Americans once called her “the fastest woman on earth.” However, she had to withdraw from the 1970 Asian Games due to injury, which was a huge blow to the Taiwanese people. When the Taiwanese sports world was subject to diplomatic crisis as well as the oppression of the International Olympic Committee, Taiwanese athletes were no longer able to compete in international sporting events. She, alone, came all the way to London, England to file a lawsuit for Taiwan. Through enormous effort, she earned Taiwan the precious right to remain on the international stage as “Chinese Taipei.” Despite having fallen from the peak into the abyss for several times, she refuses to succumb and always keeps her upbeat personality as an athlete. All this time she stays positive and strives to rise again. She once said, “You can lose your wealth or your lover, but never your courage.” Now, at more than seventy years old, she is still dedicated to charity work, marketing Taiwan by promoting exercise walking. She walks around Taiwan and the whole world, displaying the national flag as the most beautiful scene and at the same time walks Taiwan out of its international isolation.

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