Former South China Morning Post Student Sportsperson of the Year, Alison Yu Chui-yee, has been named the best newcomer to the Paralympic movement, thanks to her haul of four gold medals at the 2004 Athens Games.
The former student at Our Lady of the Rosary College hit the jackpot in Greece last year when she won top individual honours in the foil and epee wheelchair-fencing events, and then helped her team clinch two gold medals.
Yu, 21, accepted the award at a recent International Paralympic Committee meeting in Beijing. She won the SCMP award in 2003. 'I'm delighted - it's a great honour,' said Yu, who is studying geography and resource management at the Chinese University. 'It's so nice to have your efforts recognised, not only in Hong Kong but all over the world.'
Yu was 11 when doctors had to amputate part of her leg because of a tumour.
She took up fencing five years ago and has been unbeaten in major tournaments since July 2002.
Hong Kong dominated the wheelchair-fencing events in Athens, taking eight of the 15 gold medals on offer.
