Autumn Issue, 2017

Any failure is always a chance to learn.” After finishing her first degree at Ohio State University, Elaine continued her studies at HKU. On each practice day, she travelled between Shatin and Hong Kong Island and, although it was a considerable commute, she insisted on not skipping any classes. She said, “Despite all the ‘pain’, I would not give up. Sport gives me satisfaction and pride. ” Windsurfer Hayley Chan 陳晞文 (BA student), Sports Scholar 2010, had a serious accident just two months before the London Olympics in 2012. She collided with a 49er Olympic sailing boat whilst training and broke five ribs and had a midline incision from a splenectomy. “If I could survive having a third of my blood inside my abdominal cavity, I felt I ought to do everything for my life’s dream: the Olympic dream.” In just one month, Hayley resumed training on water. “When I moved into the Olympic Sailing Village, I couldn’t hold my tears. I couldn’t wait to get on my board, hold my sail and see how fast I could go. At that moment, I knew I had nothing to lose, and only better was yet to come.” Hayley finished 12 th at her first Olympic Games. She did not win but, she achieved her dream. “There are always more hurdles to jump over. That’s is what makes life interesting.” ”I can say it is never easy to be a sportsman and a university student at the same time, said Yung Kam-wah. Despite the pressures of studying, HKU athletes always devote their sweat, tears and even blood to shine when competing against other talented athletes. “They are fighting not only for their own pride, but also for the glory of HKU. It is fair to say that everyone should pay their utmost respect to our HKU athletes.” Excellence, talents and multiple intelligences HKU values multiple intelligences, talents and competencies beyond academic merit and has been admitting and supporting sportsmen and sportswomen of exceptional athletic ability for more than half a century. Since 1964, over 100 students with outstanding achievements in sports have been commended as “Sportsman” or “Sportswoman” of the Year. In 1995, HKU became the first university in Hong Kong to introduce a Sports Scholarship Scheme with the aim of embracing a diversity of talents and retaining elite athletes in Hong Kong. To date, around 400 Sports Scholars, both local and international, have been admitted to HKU. The Scheme offers an alternative path for admission for outstanding young athletes whose pre-university experience includes a significant commitment to the pursuit of sporting excellence, as well as meeting the entrance requirements for their particular academic programme of study. The Scheme does not provide monetary support but gives recognition to athletes as they pursue their sporting and academic goals. “Due to training and competitions, Sports Scholars often take longer to complete their degree programmes. They also have greater travel commitments, having to go to and from campus and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) on a daily basis. In 1995 , HKU became the first university in Hong Kong to introduce a Sports Scholarship Scheme with the aim of embracing a diversity of talents and retaining elite athletes in Hong Kong. To date, around 400 Sports Scholars, both local and international, have been admitted to HKU. 51 Cover Story