The BMX cyclist earned Hong Kong's first gold medal at the 10th National Games in Nanjing on Tuesday. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Belgium, the 17-year-old showed his skill on the course with jumps, bumps and turns. He won by a big margin in all the five races from the heats to the final. He will become a full-time athlete after finishing one more year of studying in Europe.
What do you think about your performance in the National Games?
I think I did really well in the preliminaries. In the final, I was lucky to win the gold because I did not have a good start. I was quite nervous and the bike bumped on the gate at the start, so I failed to take the lead at the beginning of the race. But fortunately it turned out to be good.
When did you start BMX racing?
BMX is a popular sport in Europe. I started training at the age of 13 when I was in Belgium, but only started racing in 2001. When I came back to Hong Kong on vacation two years ago, I entered a BMX race where I was spotted by the Hong Kong cycling team. Knowing there are limited opportunities in Europe, I joined the team and since then I have belonged to the Hong Kong squad.
What's your next target?
I'll soon prepare for the 2008 Beijing Olympics - which will include BMX racing as a new event. Winning a gold medal in the Olympic Games would be great, but right now I still need to practice more. I'm young and there is still a lot I have to learn.