Olympic heartbreak: Hong Kong’s Asian Games vault champion Shek Wai-hung to miss Rio
The 24-year-old suffered through a shoulder injury as he finished 55th in the Test Event
Two years ago, Hong Kong’s Shek Wai-hung showed world-class form to beat Olympic champion Yang Hak-seon, of South Korea, and won Asian Games gold in Incheon.
However, a shoulder injury has ended Shek’s hopes of emulating Yang in gymnastics’ greatest stage – at least for 2016 – with the 24-year-old failing to qualify for the Rio Games.
Shek finished 55th in the all-around event during the Rio Test event, which serves as a qualifier for the Olympics. He completed his programme with pain in his right shoulder, scoring 81.081 points and failing to make the cut. The last qualifier Mohamed Bourguieg, of Algeria, had 81.214 points.
“It was a disappointing result but the failure will push me to work harder in the future. I am only 24 and there are still many other events ahead after I recover from my injury.”
Shek made history four years ago after becoming city’s first Olympian in gymnastics when he qualified for the London Games.
In the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Shek saw off reigning Olympic champion Yang to win gold in the vault.
He said last year that he was suffering from ligament damage but chose to put his surgery on hold in order to realise his Rio dream.
