SOTY 2023-24: Tiffany Jia’s long jump from bronze to Guangxi glory
Hong Kong teen shares how she balances sports and academics; remains resilient despite setbacks
Tracing Tiffany Jia’s inspiring journey from school records to international podiums. Photo: HandoutTiffany Jia Wai-yin has always been passionate about sports, discovering her athletic talent at a young age.
Initially focused on sprinting, Tiffany tried the long jump for the first time at a primary school competition, surprising herself with her impressive performance.
“I hadn’t trained much because my main focus was sprinting. However, I achieved great results and even broke a record,” said the 17-year-old St Margaret’s Co-educational English Secondary & Primary School student. This early success ignited her interest in the long jump, leading her to pursue it more seriously and eventually make it her primary event.
Embracing her motto of “no regrets,” Tiffany has continually challenged herself as a long jump athlete, representing Hong Kong in various international competitions.
She holds the Hong Kong Junior Long Jump record with a personal best of 6.03 metres. She earned three bronze medals for Hong Kong in both junior and senior categories, solidifying her as one of the city’s most promising young athletes.
Recently, Tiffany was named first runner-up in the Sportsperson category at the prestigious Student of the Year (SOTY) awards for 2023-24, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
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Tiffany’s journey to becoming an award-winning athlete has been a testament to her discipline and determination. Juggling four training sessions a week with her academic responsibilities, she has learned the art of effective time management, often making sacrifices to stay on top of her game.
“I’ve found that the key to balancing training and academics is not to procrastinate,” she noted.
In April 2023, when Tiffany represented Hong Kong at the Asian U18 Athletics Championships in Uzbekistan, things did not go as planned.
She had high hopes for the competition, having previously won a bronze medal in the same event. However, battling extreme heat, Tiffany fouled on two of her three attempts during the preliminary rounds, missing the finals by just 30 centimetres.
“That moment was heartbreaking. I remember when I had to leave the track after the competition, I almost cried,” she admitted.
The setback in Uzbekistan was a test of Tiffany’s resilience. It affected her deeply, leaving her in a low state for much of 2023.
“Although I achieved some good results after returning to Hong Kong, the psychological impact of that competition lingered,” she shared.
But she did not let disappointment define her. Instead, she spent months reflecting on the experience, working on her mindset, and regaining her confidence.
In November 2023, Tiffany participated in the National Student (Youth) Games in Guangxi, where she faced some of the strongest competitors in China, including champions from the Asian Games and the Asian U20 Athletics Championships.
With such strong opponents, Tiffany had low expectations. However, things took an unexpected turn when one of her strongest competitors failed to qualify for the finals due to a mistake in the preliminaries, opening up an opportunity for her.
“In the end, I managed to pull it off, jumping from fifth to third place on my last attempt,” she said. Her final jump of 5.99 metres earned her a spot on the podium.
Tiffany believed her success in Guangxi was not just about skill but also the unpredictable nature of sports.
“I believe that everything is built on a foundation of ability, but luck also plays a role,” Tiffany said, emphasising the unpredictable nature of sports and the excitement it brings.
Looking ahead, Tiffany’s future is filled with hope and excitement. She hopes to represent Hong Kong in the 2025 National Games and the 2026 Asian Games, where she aims to participate and excel.