Tan faced intense competition from Iraq’s Abdul Wahid Aziz for the silver medal. During his final lift, the clean and jerk, Tan experienced severe leg pain. Despite doctors advising immediate treatment at the Athlete’s Village, he chose to continue. Overcoming the odds, Tan successfully lifted a total of 380 kg, securing the silver medal.

Life After the Olympics

Following his Olympic career, Tan ventured into the restaurant business but faced challenges and ultimately closed it. He briefly worked as a taxi driver before becoming a weightlifting coach in 1974. Later, in November 1982, he joined the Singapore Sports Council as a gym supervisor at Kallang Family ClubFit.

Honours and Legacy

Tan’s Olympic success made him a trailblazer for Singaporean sports, being the only Singaporean to win medals at all major international events: the SEAP Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympic Games, a distinction he held for 48 years. In 1984, he became the first weightlifter globally to receive the International Weightlifting Federation’s prestigious Gold Award. In Singapore, he was honored with the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) during the National Day awards.

On 26 June 1996, the Singapore Mint commemorated Tan with a medallion set for the Atlanta Olympic Games, showcasing him mid-lift in a dynamic optical effect. The set also featured Izzy, Atlanta’s official Olympic mascot.

In 1999, Tan was nominated for the “Spirit of the Century” award and “Singapore’s Greatest Athlete” award. While he conceded the latter to badminton legend Wong Peng Soon, his legacy as a national icon remains unparalleled.