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After a tremendously successful showing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hong Kong looked to build on its success at this year's Beijing Winter Games. Hailing from a city without snow or ice, these three Olympians defied all odds to reach the top of their respective sports.
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This year, Hong Kong sent three athletes - the most we have ever sent to the Winter Olympics. It is also the first time we sent athletes in multiple sports: alpine skiing and short-track speed skating.
Making his debut was Sidney Chu in the men's 500 meters short-track speed skate. Born here, Chu first skated while playing ice hockey as a kid, where he fell in love with speed. He hopes to one day open an academy here, providing youth with the opportunity to learn to skate.
Alpine skiing teammates Adrian Yung and Audrey King both competed in their first Olympics as well. King, 18, was Hong Kong's sole female athlete in Beijing. She cites Arabella Ng, Hong Kong's only representative in the 2018 Winter Games, as her inspiration.
Yung, only 17, is a former British alpine champion. He also mentions seeing Ng compete as motivation. "Hopefully I can be part of what brings winter sports in Hong Kong alive, just like what Arabella did four years ago," he remarks.
When we think of winter sports, sub-tropical Hong Kong does not typically come to mind. Despite this, and the difficulties of training for the Olympics amid a pandemic, these athletes have fought so hard to represent Hong Kong on a global stage.
Regardless of the outcomes, Hongkongers should be incredibly proud of our young delegation in Beijing. I hope that seeing them compete will inspire a new generation of winter athletes.
Bernard Charnwut Chan is chairman of Tai Kwun Culture & Arts Co Ltd.
