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Chan Kin-wa

Record-breaking Hong Kong swimmer Kenneth To King-him has died suddenly aged 26 in the US, the Hong Kong Sports Institute has confirmed in a statement.
To felt unwell in the locker room after a practice session in Florida, and was taken to hospital where he died on Monday night. He had been undergoing a three-month training programme with the Gator Swim Club of the University of Florida.
“The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing away of elite swimmer Kenneth To,” a statement said.
“Kenneth was an outstanding elite athlete. He had been an Elite Scholarship Athlete at the HKSI since August 2016.

(☀️) On training camp with Coach Troy and the squad. Thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing group! #training #squad #Florida pic.twitter.com/5Z9OlucWi5
— Kenneth To - 杜敬謙 (@kennethkhto) March 13, 2019

“He was extremely popular and loved by his teammates and competitors. Kenneth was known as a truly exceptional person, warm, funny and kind. His sudden passing is a huge loss to local sports.
“The HKSI extends our deepest condolences to Kenneth’s family, teammates and coaches.”
The cause of his death was not immediately clear.
The former Sydney-based swimmer switched nationality from Australia, where he was raised from the age of two and learned the sport, to the land of his birth in 2016, having won a world championship silver medal in Barcelona in 2013 and a gold medal at the 2012 Youth Olympics.

To set four long-course and nine short-course records in his first 10 months swimming for Hong Kong, and held 17 overall when he died.
He first represented Hong Kong at the 2017 World University Games, followed by the China National Games in Tianjin, where he captured a silver medal with Chinese star Sun Yang in a joint relay team.
It was Hong Kong’s first swimming medal at the China National Games since it made its debut in 1997 after the handover.
At last year’s Asian Games in Jakarta, To finished fifth in the finals of the 50-metres freestyle and the 200m individual medley.

“I want to say it is a memorable experience,” To said after receiving an award for outstanding achievements from the Hong Kong Swimming Association in May 2018. “Each month that I raced and each competition that I went to is another highlight of my swimming career.
“Swimming in Australia was getting to the point of being a little bit repetitive and did not satisfy me in terms of race opportunity and improvement.
Sun Yang pays tribute to Kenneth To – ‘may there be no pain in heaven’
“Coming back to Hong Kong has given me a second chance and a new perspective on swimming and swimming in my life. The National Games was exceptional as I raced in front of a big crowd cheering for you.”

(‍♂️) Been a great 2 months of training in Florida. Excited to race my first Pro Swim Series meet in the US tomorrow! #racing #TYRProSeries #DesMoines pic.twitter.com/kSJOY0KN4E
— Kenneth To - 杜敬謙 (@kennethkhto) March 7, 2019

At the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore, To burst on to the international scene, taking home six medals – a gold in the 4×100m medley relay, three silvers and two bronze.
Four years later in Glasgow, To won two medals for Australia at the Commonwealth Games – one gold as a heat swimmer for the 4×100m freestyle, and one silver as a breaststroke heat swimmer in the 4×100m medley relay.
Hong Kong swimming mourns ‘our big Olympic hope’ Kenneth To after death
However, a back injury hindered his progress and after meeting his girlfriend at the 2015 World Cup in Hong Kong, he decided to return to the place of his birth.
“I enjoy every moment in Hong Kong, and am very happy to be representing Hong Kong at the highest level,” To said last year.


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Hong Kong Sports Institute

Kenneth To, record-breaking Hong Kong swimmer, dies aged 26 in Florida – ‘a huge loss to local sports’

Kenneth To King-him at the Hong Kong Festival of Sports in April 2018. He died at the age of 26 in the US on Monday night. Photo: Winson Wong

Photo:

Hong Kong swimming mourns death of Kenneth To – ‘he was our biggest hope for 2020 Tokyo Olympics’

Kenneth To at the Victoria Park swimming pool in Causeway Bay in August 2018 ahead of the Asian Games. He died suddenly on Monday night after a training session in the US. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Kenneth To King-him (left) and Stephanie Au Hoi-shun (right) hold the Hong Kong flag during the Victory Ceremony of FINA / air weave Swimming World Cup 2017 at the Victoria Park Swimming Pool in Causeway Bay. 30SEP17 SCMP / Felix Wong

Kenneth To King-him of Hong Kong in action during men's 50m Butterfly of Swimming World Cup – Hong Kong 2016 at Victoria Park. 29OCT16 SCMP/Edward Wong

Hong Kong swimmer Kenneth To King-him (R) with his girlfriend Kelly Kwong Ka-yi pictured at the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2017. 01OCT17 SCMP/Chan Kin-wa

Sun Yang pays tribute to Kenneth To after shock death at 26 – ‘may there be no pain in heaven’

Kenneth To King-him (second left) with Sun Yang (left) and their joint relay team at the 2017 China National Games. They won silver. Photo: Facebook/Kenneth To

Kenneth To King-him swims in the Men 50 LC Meter Butterfly during Hong Kong Festival of Sports Swimming Long Course Time Trial at Hong Kong Sports Institute, Fo Tan. 14APR18. SCMP / Winson Wong

Kenneth To King-him competes in Men's 100 meter freestyle of FINA / air weave Swimming World Cup 2017 at the Victoria Park Swimming Pool in Causeway Bay. 30SEP17 SCMP / Felix Wong

Sun Yang poses with Kenneth To

Sport

Hong Kong

Holder of 17 Hong Kong swimming records felt unwell in the locker room after a practice session in Florida
To was taken to hospital where he died, Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms in statement


Holder of 17 Hong Kong swimming records felt unwell in the locker room after a practice session in Florida, and was taken to hospital where he died.


Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Florida

Australia

Kenneth To, record-breaking Hong Kong swimmer, dies aged 26 in Florida – ‘a huge loss to local sports’

Holder of 17 Hong Kong swimming records felt unwell in the locker room after a practice session in Florida To was taken to hospital where he died, Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms in statement

Holder of 17 Hong Kong swimming records felt unwell in the locker room after a practice session in Florida

To was taken to hospital where he died, Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms in statement