When Kevin Lin reached the finish line of a 250km “ultra-marathon” in Ant­arctica last year, he wrapped himself in his national flag. It wasn’t for warmth. “I’m proud to represent my country at such a moment – it’s as simple as that,” he says. The Taiwanese endurance athlete, now 31, was the overall champion in the Four Deserts series of races through some of the harshest terrain in the world.

Lin is a national hero. His compatriots love him for winning, and for doing it in the name of their country. They have nicknamed the slightly built, ascetic-looking young runner the “Glory of Taiwan”.