Lifting Her Dreams: Bunun Teenager Wu Yu-Syuan's Journey from Taoyuan

　In 2026, 16-year-old weightlifter Wu Yu-Syuan（吳妤萱）won gold in the women's 58 kg division at the National Youth Cup Weightlifting Championship（全國青年盃舉重錦標賽）. The victory earned Wu, a member of the Bunun indigenous people, a place on Taiwan's national team and the opportunity to compete internationally. Hailing from Kaohsiung City's Taoyuan District, she has lifted her dreams higher through unwavering determination.

　Wu's connection to weightlifting began in elementary school, when she watched the Taoyuan Junior High School team train. A coach noticed her interest and invited her to join when she was older, but her family worried the sport might affect her physique. When she encountered weightlifting again in junior high school, her enthusiasm and persistence led her to begin training. Her family eventually came to support her.

　Competition has brought setbacks as well as advances. Representing Taiwan at the World Youth Championships（世界青年錦標賽）in Egypt, Wu did not win a medal. In August, she competed at the Asian Youth and Junior Championships（亞洲青年暨青少年錦標賽）in Uzbekistan and placed seventh in the 61 kg division. 
　For Wu, international competitions are a chance to gain experience, recognize where she needs to improve, and make progress. Her coach, Wu Syuan-min (吳宣旻), says she may not be the most naturally gifted athlete, but she is exceptionally willing to train: when a movement is unfamiliar, she repeats it until it becomes muscle memory. The backing of her family and coach gives her greater courage to face challenges.

　Looking ahead, Wu hopes to follow the example of fellow Bunun weightlifter and Olympian Kao Chan-hung（高展宏）by competing at higher levels. She also hopes to return to Taoyuan Junior High School as a weightlifting coach and pass on what she has learned. Wu lifts more than a barbell: she elevates her determination and her dreams.

從桃源出發　布農少女吳妤萱舉重逐夢
文／蔡蜜綺

　　16歲布農族少女吳妤萱，2026年在全國青年盃舉重錦標賽勇奪女子58公斤級金牌，取得國手資格，代表臺灣站上國際賽場。從桃源出發的她，努力不懈，一步步舉起夢想。
　　吳妤萱與舉重的緣分，始於小學觀看桃源國中舉重隊訓練，教練看她展現興趣，邀請日後加入，因家人擔心影響體態未能同意。升上國中再次遇見舉重，她憑著熱忱與堅持投入訓練，最終讓家人轉而支持。
　　成為國手後，賽場並非一路順遂。她代表國家赴埃及參加世界青年錦標賽，未能摘牌；8月再赴烏茲別克參加亞洲青年暨青少年錦標賽，61公斤級獲第七名。對她而言，國際賽不只累積經驗，也是看見自身不足，持續進步的機會。教練吳宣旻形容，她不是最具天分的選手，卻非常肯練，動作不熟就反覆練習，直到成為身體記憶。期間家人與教練的陪伴，讓她有更勇氣面對挑戰。
　　未來，她希望以同為布農族、曾出戰奧運的高展宏為榜樣，挑戰更高層級賽事，亦期待回到桃源國中擔任舉重教練，傳承經驗。吳妤萱舉起的不只是槓鈴，也是堅持與夢想。