Yu's star shines brightest of all
For the Hong Kong fencing team, this Paralympics has been a runaway success but for Yu Chui-yee it has been a personal triumph.
The 20-year-old has been the star of the piste, winning gold in all four of her events, the individual and team titles in both epee and foil. If the traditional honour of Master at Arms still exists, it must be hers.
'I didn't expect to win four golds when we came to the Games but I was very confident that I could do well,' she said. 'I just decided to relax and do my best. And obviously, winning the golds makes me very happy.'
Relaxation has been a key to her success. Team spokesman Li Tak-nang said he had never seen someone deal with the pressure so easily. 'She has been very cool throughout the Games,' he said. 'She just believes in herself and gets on with it.'
Yu added the fourth and final touch to her medal haul on Wednesday when she teamed up with Pui Shan-fan and Yui Chong-chan to beat Hungary 45-22 in the final of the team foil. It was the women's team epee event, however, which gave her the most satisfaction.
'The competition was the strongest there. Hungary had a really good team and it is always more satisfying to win against a good team. It was unforgettable.'
In the individual foil she beat compatriot Fan 15-4. 'No matter who won, the important thing is that the gold medal went to Hong Kong,' said Yu at the time.
Hong Kong fencers, who already have 13 medals, have certainly reaped the benefits of some first-class preparation.
'We have a great coach and we train very intensively,' says Yu.
Their work has not gone unnoticed by the opposition. Judit Palfi, a member of the Hungarian team beaten into the silver slot in the team epee, was impressed by the Hong Kong style.
'They are fencing very fast and in a fanatic way,' she said. 'Besides that they are training in a professional way every day, while we practice our sport as amateurs.'
However, Yu might easily have slipped through the net if it had not been for some eagle-eyed friends who thought they saw something in her that might take to swordplay.
'I used to be a swimmer but some friends started talking about fencing and they were all very interested in it,' she said.
'I thought it was all fairly strange but curiosity got the better of me so I went down to have a look and got hooked. Now I think it is one of the most exciting sports around.'
