When We Were Heroes: 3 Former Hong Kong Olympians Reminisce

As the Olympic Games begin later this month, Prestige reminisces with three former Hong Kong team members about their moments of glory.

ROBYN LAMSAM

At the age of just 14, swimmer Robyn Lamsam became a local hero when she represented Hong Kong at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The youngest of Hong Kong’s 38 athletes, she was also the only female swimmer to represent the city. Talk about being thrown in the deep end.

Understandably, being suddenly thrust into the spotlight was an overwhelming experience for the teenager. “I felt nervous and a bit overwhelmed – perhaps it was also an age thing,” Lamsam tells Prestige 32 years later. “I don’t think I enjoyed the entire experience as much as I should have. I definitely should have enjoyed myself more.

“Back in 1992, I was so laser-focused on breaking Hong Kong records I forgot how special getting to the Olympics was – the fact that out of all the hundreds of thousands of athletes in the world, I was actually one of the few who made it.”

Despite being young and under pressure, Lamsam still remembers her experience at the Games in great detail. “It was quite overwhelming walking around the Olympic Village,” she says, “because you’d come across many of the world’s top athletes in different sports. It was easy to feel a little starstruck and get distracted.”

“We slept in apartments with quite a few other residents who had different schedules. Part of our pre-Olympic training was to ensure we’d be as rested and prepared as well as possible. I brought my own pillow, eyeshades and earplugs to ensure I’d always have a good night’s sleep and not be disturbed by people coming and going in and out of the apartment.”

What she doesn’t remember, however, is the 1992 opening ceremony, as she wasn’t even present for the team’s walk in the stadium. “My first event, the 100-metres freestyle, was also the first event at the Olympics the next day,” she explains. “As there’s usually a lot of waiting and standing around before the ceremony, my coach didn’t want me to get overly tired.”

In recent years, it was the American swimmer Michael Phelps who impressed Lamsam the most – and it’s not just his skills in the pool that caught her attention. “As a swimmer, I think Michael Phelps is phenomenal, having won 23 Olympic Gold Medals over the course of three Olympic Games,” she says. “I also feel he’s been brave talking about his struggles with mental-health issues to raise awareness about this crucial global and far-reaching subject, which is quite often taboo amongst athletes who project an impenetrable image.”

Of course, Lamsam looks back at her experience with great pride, and is grateful for the kick-start it gave her swimming career. So much so, that by 1997, she was awarded a Badge of Honour in recognition of her achievements and contributions to sport in Hong Kong. “I was so young at the time – making the Olympic team was the start of what turned out to be a long and successful swimming career – and it started off with a bang, so to speak!”

Her advice to the Olympians competing for the very first time? “Treasure every moment. There aren’t many people who can call themselves Olympians. It’s truly a great honour and a potentially once- in-a-lifetime experience.”

ALEX FONG

He’s known for his string of Cantopop hits, TV dramas and films, but before his showbiz career, Alex Fong was an Olympic swimmer who represented Hong Kong at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, competing in three events: 200-metres backstroke, 200-metres individual medley and 400-metres individual medley.

“The highlight was definitely walking into the opening ceremony with Team Hong Kong, China,” Fong says. “Taking part in the Olympics as an athlete was a dream come true. It wasn’t my first time participating in a major sporting event’s opening ceremony, but being able to do so as an Olympian was undoubtedly a moment to remember.”

Nicknamed “Little Flying Fish” for his achievements in the pool, Fong fondly remembers the Olympics as a melting pot of international athletes. “It’s like a global village, with people of different races, physiques and characteristics representing different sports,” he says, adding “for example, the tallest ones are usually basketball players, while the most slender and petite ones are often gymnasts or divers”.

And with a melting pot of cultures comes a melting pot of cuisines – Fong says the competing athletes had more than enough to eat. “The one thing to be mindful of at the Olympics is the abundance of delicious food available,” he says. “In the Sydney Olympics that I took part in, there were cuisines of every country, with food available at any time.”

Sadly, an abundance of intentional grub wasn’t enough to keep Fong in the pool. “Unfortunately, I started to drift away from my swimming career after the Olympics,” admits Fong. Instead, he channelled his popularity into mainstream media, becoming an award-winning singer and actor in more 50 films.

Much like fellow swimmer Robyn Lamsam, Fong says he was blown away by Michael Phelps’s performances in later Games. “I’ll never forget seeing Michael Phelps win eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where I was working as a commentator for TVB. I witnessed history in the making.”

As for the Olympic newcomers, Fong doesn’t believe they need much advice. “Those who become Olympians have already proven themselves to be world-class athletes with rich experience,” he says. “Just focus on the competition and strive for the best results.”

MOONIE CHU

Moonie Chu started fencing when she was eight years old, and by the age of 14 she was training with the Hong Kong team. So it’s hardly surprising that during her third year of psychology studies at university, Chu decided to become a full-time athlete and complete her studies on a part-time basis.

And it all worked out for the best, because by 2021 she was competing in the women’s épée team event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. “Because of Covid-19, the last qualification competition was postponed by a year,” she says, “and during that year, we weren’t even sure if the Games would take place.”

However, Chu and her teammates decided to continuing their rigorous training sessions throughout the pandemic, even though at times there was no real hope in sight. “In the end, we secured our qualification just a few months before the Games began. This was significant to me, because as an athlete, taking part in the Olympics is the pinnacle of my career. It also showed me the importance of never giving up even until the last moment, because you never know what might happen.”

What Chu also didn’t expect was the overwhelming support she received from the public, as fencing isn’t a popular sport in Hong Kong. “On the day of my event, I turned off my phone, but when I turned it back on, I’d received so many supportive messages and encouragement,” she says with pride. “I also came across several videos of people gathered at public TV screens in malls watching our competition. Witnessing this outpouring of support truly warmed my heart.”

And just like Alex Fong, Chu has fond memories of the Olympic Village, in particular the diverse of cultures and cuisines. “I really enjoyed the experience, particularly at the cafeteria. It was well- stocked with food and open nearly 24 hours a day, giving us the freedom to come and go as we pleased.

“The overall atmosphere in the village was welcoming and inclusive, given the mix of athletes from different countries. Despite our varied backgrounds, it felt like a united community where everyone conversed, sharing stories about their sports.”

Looking back at her experience, Chu, now 29, talks about the mounting pressure. “At that moment, I struggled to embrace the identity of an Olympian because, in a way, I didn’t feel as if I deserved it,” she admits. “I believe I should have hyped myself up a bit more.

“Now, I wish I’d simply relished having that identity and the ability to fully embrace it, instead of doubting myself. I wish I’d been more positive towards myself and the entire experience.”

Not surprisingly, If she had the chance to do it again, she’d do things differently. “I’d remind myself to focus on enjoying the Games rather than becoming overly stressed about the competition – it’s important to strike a balance between dedication to performance and finding joy in the experience.”

And that’s also exactly the advice she has for first-time Olympians heading to Paris this month. “Savour every moment of the experience and just enjoy the game. It’s easy to get caught up in the preparation and the pressure of the Olympic experience. Stay present and allow yourself to enjoy the moment.”