Top 10: What is something you admire about Hong Kong’s Olympic medallists?
From Cheung Ka-long’s fencing gold to Siobhan Haughey’s swimming bronze, students are impressed with these winning athletes’ hard work.
Cheung Ka-long, Siobhan Haughey and Vivian Kong are the city’s medallists from the Paris Olympics. Photo: Getty ImagesThis week’s question: What is the funniest name you can think of for a pet and why? To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at [email protected] by 12pm on October 2. Tell us your name, age and school.
Choi Tsz-wing, 15, Ma Kam Ming Charitable Foundation Ma Ko Pan Memorial College: I admire Hong Kong’s Olympic medallists’ hard work, courage and determination. The Olympic competition, which occurs every four years, serves as a testament to the athletes’ continuous training and unwavering commitment to keep their bodies in the best possible shape for the upcoming contest. Their humility, despite their remarkable achievements, is another aspect that I deeply respect, as it reflects their unwavering sportsmanship.
Lee Hei-yin, 14, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Li Ka Shing College: I admire the athletes’ persistence because even if their bodies are burdened with injuries caused by intense and high-pressure training and psychological problems caused by setbacks in competition, they still don’t give up. The athletes overcome obstacles to hold on to their dreams.
Grace Li Pui-yiu, 16, Fung Kai No 1 Secondary School: Hong Kong’s Olympic medallists are truly admirable. Their tenacity and determination are outstanding. They endure tough training daily, staying firm in their pursuit of excellence. In the face of fierce competition from all over the world, they show unwavering courage and resilience. Their achievements on the global stage prove their hard work and dedication. Their spirit inspires us all to pursue our dreams firmly, reminding us that we can overcome any obstacle and reach our goals with perseverance and determination.
Nikita Lam, 17, Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School: The performances of Edgar Cheung, Siobhan Haughey and Vivian Kong at the Paris Olympics were the trending topic a few months ago. After watching the matches played by our Hong Kong athletes, I was truly inspired by them, as they didn‘t flinch at their powerful competitors even when the odds were against them. In the fierce battles, they tried their very best to fight for themselves and for Hong Kong. Finally, they stood on the podium and got the honoured title. Their fighting spirit makes me admire them, and I have learned not to be afraid of failures and not to escape from difficulties.
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Cynthia So Sze-tung, 12, Pope Paul VI College: I admire the hard work and persistence of athletes. They have to practise hard every day. Getting them closer to their goals takes a long period of practice and competition. Also, during training, they need to be brave to face any difficulties and challenges, such as healthy eating in moderation and pressure to join the Olympics. Although being a Hong Kong Olympic medallist is not easy, they use their perseverance to do their best.
Kevin Ng Chun-wing, 16, Buddhist Tai Hung College: Persistence and a stable mentality. As a Hong Kong citizen, you must have heard of the city’s two fencing gold medals. Anyone who has watched the game knows that both games were difficult comebacks. With a rapid heartbeat, we did not even dare to watch as the game played on the television. However, Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai ignored the score and focused on every point. They did not give up and did not even think they might lose. The game results are well known to all of us, but most importantly, their spirit deserves admiration from each of us.
Orca Fung Chun-yiu, 16, Ma On Shan Tsung Tsin Secondary School: A significant controversy arose in the final match of this year’s Olympics. The Italian athlete and Cheung Ka-long scored hits on each other at the match point. The judge ultimately awarded the victory to Cheung, sparking outrage from the Italian coach and netizens. People in Hong Kong criticised the judge’s decision in the first rematch. As someone who has played fencing before, I can attest to the complexity of the sport. Successfully scoring a point in fencing requires speed and precision in how you touch your opponent’s sword and your own posture. While the voice-overs on various TV channels explained this immediately, Hong Kong netizens continued to criticise the coach, resorting to insults and blowing black whistles. Yet Cheung didn’t follow the flow, respectfully congratulating the Italian athlete and informing his fans to stop criticising him. True sportsmanship on display!
Siena Poon Hoi-ching, 12, Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored By Sik Sik Yuen): One thing I truly admire about Hong Kong’s Olympic medallists is their incredible determination and resilience. Despite facing numerous challenges, including limited resources and intense competition, these athletes have shown unwavering dedication to their sports. Their commitment to training, often juggling studies and sports, is inspiring. For instance, athletes like Cheung Ka-long have not only achieved personal success but have also brought pride to our city. Their achievements highlight the importance of hard work and perseverance. They serve as role models for young people like me, demonstrating that with passion and effort, we can overcome obstacles and reach our goals.
Tsui Chung-chi, 16, Pui Kiu College: I admire Haughey, who won two bronze medals at the Olympics this year. Even though some people are criticising her for not winning gold, Haughey is still happy about her win.
Charis Chan, 15, Malvern College Hong Kong: The most admirable aspect of Hong Kong’s Olympic medallists is how they respond to unreasonable, hateful comments online. During the Olympic Games, our incredible fencers Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong received ridiculous comments on their social media, for example, “scolding” them for “ruining the French’s celebration for their first gold medal” when our Hong Kong fencers earned their titles with their hard work. In interviews, they calmly replied to the hateful comments by mentioning how judges in the Olympics finals must have been fair and that they were trying to win against themselves but not focusing on beating others. Now that people can comment on anything that you share online, it is crucial that we believe in our ethics and are cautious about hateful comments.