Jimmy Lee Cho-wai, 15, has overcome a physical weakness to become a member of the Hong Kong athletics team in record time. The Jockey Club Eduyoung College student has slightly deformed feet, but is setting the running tracks on fire with his blistering pace.
Jimmy is pigeon toed - meaning his toes point inwards instead of straight ahead - but that doesn't stop him from running, and running well. In May, he became the talk of the town when he managed to catch up with senior champion Tsang Hon-sing in a spectacular finish to round three of the Xtep Hong Kong Athletic League 2010. Both of them tumbled onto the track at the finish line and judges needed a photograph to decide the winner.
Jimmy is a newcomer to middle- to long-distance running. But, with only 18 months of training, he has broken two junior records and secured his place on the team.
In 2008, he won medals at his school athletics meet. He went on to represent his school at the Yuen Long District Inter-School Athletics Championships, where he came seventh in the 800 metres.
Although he was not entirely satisfied with his performance, he attracted the attention of Alexander Chau Chun-ho, a coach who runs his own club.
'In that race the gold and silver medallists were my students,' Chau says. 'Jimmy tried his very best to catch up with them until he ran out of steam. His determination surprised me.'
