Lou Wen ngau

Lou Wen-ngau was a Chinese long-distance runner who was deaf and mute. He competed in the marathon at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he finished 41st out of 41 participants. He was the only deaf athlete in the entire Olympic Games that year. He ran barefoot and wore a white shirt with the word "China" written on it. He was unable to hear the starting gun or the cheers of the crowd, but he persevered and completed the race in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 49 seconds. He was the first Chinese athlete to participate in the Olympic marathon, and the first deaf Asian athlete to compete in the Olympics. He was also the first deaf person to run a marathon in less than four hours. Lou Wen-ngau was born in 1919 in Shanghai, China. He lost his hearing and speech abilities at a young age due to illness. He started running as a hobby and joined a local sports club. He trained hard and showed great talent and endurance. He qualified for the 1948 Olympics by winning the Chinese national marathon championship in 1947. He was selected as one of the four Chinese athletes to represent China in the Olympics, along with two sprinters and a high jumper. He was the only one who did not speak English or have a coach. He traveled to London by himself and faced many difficulties and challenges. He had to find his own way to the Olympic Village, register for the event, and communicate with the officials and other athletes. He also had to deal with the unfamiliar weather, food, and culture. He did not have any proper running shoes or clothes, and he did not receive any support or guidance from the Chinese Olympic Committee. He was alone and isolated, but he did not give up. He ran with courage and dignity, and earned the respect and admiration of many people. He was praised by the British media as "the most courageous runner in the history of the Olympic Games". He was also honored by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) as one of the pioneers of deaf sports. He returned to China after the Olympics and continued to run and train. He also worked as a tailor and a carpenter. He died in the 1960s, but the exact date and cause of his death are unknown. He was buried in an unknown location. He did not leave behind any family or friends, and his story was largely forgotten by the public. However, he left a lasting legacy and inspiration for many deaf athletes and runners around the world. He proved that deafness is not a barrier to achieving one's dreams and goals. He showed that with determination, perseverance, and passion, anything is possible. He was a true hero and a legend of the Olympic Games.