Champion gives her best shot
The Hong Kong junior shot-put record holder is no stranger to pain. Wendy Hung Lai-hong's history of injuries includes numerous ankle injuries and a one-week hospital stay due to back injuries.
'I have sprained my ankles so many times during ball games that I've lost count. Once when I was playing volleyball, I hurt my waist and back so badly that I couldn't move,' the Form Six student of Diocesan Girls' School said.
'I thought it was nothing serious, but I had to be taken to hospital by my schoolmates,' she told Young Post.
Wendy had to stay in hospital for a week and did not fully recover for a month.
Although the athlete may not always be in her top form, she has managed to win the shot-put championship at the Hong Kong Inter-school Athletics Meet for the last six years.
'I started out with running. I took part in the 100 and 200 metres races. But when I was promoted to Form Two, I realised that I was strong enough to try shot-put, javelin and discus,' she said.
'I guess my sister [Dora Hung Lai-on] had an influence on me. She threw the discus too.' But for Wendy the love for sports turned into a full-blown passion. Besides being a member of her school's shot-put team, she was also a member of the volleyball, basketball and netball teams.
However, she has dropped netball this year because she wants to concentrate on field events. 'I felt that although I have been winning the Inter-school meet for several years, I haven't really focused on the sport.
'So I gave up netball and spent the time on weight training instead. I want to prove that I'm capable of doing even better in shot-put.' Wendy went to the Hong Kong Sports Institute two days a week to attend weight-lifting sessions and, as a result, set a new record of 11.67 metres in an open competition in March.
'When I took part in the open competition, I didn't feel any pressure, unlike in inter-school competitions,' she said.
'I think adults deserve to win in open competitions because they have more experience and better skills. When I took part in inter-school meets, I was very nervous as I was representing my school, not just myself.' Nevertheless, Wendy won both events and has been ranked the number one junior shot-put player for the last few years.
The athlete said the secret of her success was not only strength, but also technique and speed. Her height - 1.74 metres - is also an advantage.
'I do well in the 100 and 200 metres because I have the right speed, and that helps me with the shot-put. You have to make the best use of your body to put the shot,' she explained.
Wendy's love for sports led her to study sports theory in HKCEE Physical Education and ended up scoring an A.
'After studying the theories, I can put them to practice and understand what my coach is trying to teach me,' she said.
Wendy, who has been the captain of her school's athletics team for three years, said she wants to extend her talents and would continue to participate in athletics in university.
