Kenneth To remains an inspiration to all
- Despite being short of stature in a sport dominated by tall men, the cheerful Hong Kong-born swimmer broke records and took on the best in the world
As the international swimming world, and Hong Kong in particular, comes to terms with the tragically premature death of a possible medal hope at the Tokyo Olympics next year, friends and rivals have recalled the things that set Kenneth To King-him apart.
Being short of stature in a sport dominated by tall men, maybe 30cm more than him, is one of them. US swimming legend Ryan Lochte led a galaxy of stars offering tributes to the Hong Kong-born 26-year-old, hailing him as an inspiration to shorter swimmers and alluding to his mental strength and cheerful fortitude in the face of adversity.
To died in hospital after falling ill during training in Florida.
Having moved to Australia aged two and been raised in Sydney, To broke age records, competed in the world championships and narrowly missed selection in the 2012 Australian Olympic team. In 2014 he won medals for Australia at the Commonwealth Games.
In 2016, after missing Olympic selection again, he transferred his nationality to his birthplace, where he broke 17 records.
Officials held high hopes he would win an Olympic medal for Hong Kong next year.
This would have capped a battle against adversity including injury which prompted Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson to post on Instagram: “[His] mental strength and the fortitude he must have had after moving countries, surgery and more, all while working his way back into the sport, is a strength not many athletes have … especially since he did it with a smile.”
To noted on Twitter that his sixth place in the 100-metre medley at the world short-course titles in China in December was his first major individual final in six years.
We do not know enough about the circumstances of To’s death to draw any conclusions.
But the tributes to this elite scholar at the Hong Kong Sports Institute are reminders of the daunting physical challenges that can face any young sports champion at the height of their powers.
He remains an inspiration to aspiring champions reflected in tributes from two famous contemporaries. Australia’s triple world gold medallist James Magnussen: “For a long period To was, pound for pound, the best swimmer in the world”. Chinese Olympic superstar Sun Yang: “Your love and passion for swimming will always be in our hearts … May there be no pain in heaven.”
