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Hong Kong Sports Institute
SportHong Kong

Hong Kong women’s triathlete Bailee Brown on giving up her Canadian passport and dreams of being city’s Gwen Jorgensen

  • The 20-year-old Asian Games medallist confirms she will represent Team Hong Kong throughout her athletic career
  • Brown hopes for international circuit return as she blazes the trail for a band of promising triathletes

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The 20-year-old triathlete Bailee Brown is ranked 146th in the International Triathlon Union world rankings. Photo: Handout
Andrew McNicol

Hong Kong national team triathlete Bailee Brown made the rather impulsive decision to give up her Canadian passport two years ago for the city she calls home. Now, the 20-year-old finds herself leading an electrifying generation of local women in the sport.

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“To make the change in my final year in high school to stay in Hong Kong was pretty big. I was planning to move to Canada for university because that was the normal track at school – either US or Canada, some go to the UK as well. I would have to live in Canada for two years in order to get it back,” said University of Hong Kong student Brown, referring to her post-Hong Kong International School crossroads.

Brown – ranked 146th in the world by the International Triathlon Union (ITU), far and away the highest Hong Kong female – was given approval just in time for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She made an immediate impact, helping Team Hong Kong to a bronze medal in the mixed relay against the odds.
While things got off to a smooth start, Brown’s world was disrupted by the abrupt departure of influential Hong Kong Sports Institute head triathlon coach Stephen Moss in April. Moss was officially replaced by local coach Andrew Wright in August.
Team Hong Kong finish with a bronze in the 2019 Asian Games mixed relay. Photo: ITU Media
Team Hong Kong finish with a bronze in the 2019 Asian Games mixed relay. Photo: ITU Media
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“It was crazy,” said Brown, adding that she wished Wright a smooth transition into the new role. “My coach at the time convinced me to stay. He said I had a lot of potential and should continue representing Hong Kong – I was sold.

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