China’s most decorated gymnast hails Hong Kong Olympic star Shek’s ‘brilliant career’
Shek won Asian Games gold in the men’s vault in 2014 and 2018 and qualified for this year’s Olympics in Paris
Li Xiaopeng, China’s most decorated gymnast, has praised Hong Kong’s Shek Wai-hung for his “brilliant career” and suggested the 33-year-old take up coaching once he retires from the sport.
Shek won Asian Games gold in the men’s vault in 2014 and 2018 and qualified for this year’s Olympics in Paris, his third Games after also taking part in London 2012 and Tokyo in 2021.
But as he reaches the twilight of his career, Li said Shek should look back on his achievements with pride and begin thinking about life after competitive gymnastics.
“I think it is a very difficult step for every athlete to retire, and in Shek’s case, I think he has already had a brilliant career, and he can consider coaching,” Li said. “Of course, he could also compete and coach at the same time.”
Li, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, met Shek as a child when he joined the mainland Chinese team for a training camp and praised the Hongkonger’s attitude after failing to achieve the outcome he had sought in Paris.
“When Shek was a little boy, he trained with the [Chinese] national team, and his strength was vaulting,” Li said. “But unfortunately, he went to the Paris Olympics and did not get a great result, but I think he showed a kind of sportsmanship.
