bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

James Porteous

At 24, Stephanie Au Hoi-shun is ready to retire.
She’s already packed in more in her young life than most of us probably ever will – and having swapped the “mindless” grind of a mainland China training regime as an adolescent to a horizon-broadening few years in the United States’ liberal epicentre, University of California at Berkeley, she’s ready to find out what life has to offer beyond swimming.
Au, Hong Kong’s flag-bearer at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony, was part of the 4x100m Individual Medley relay team that arrived in Brazil knowing they had already made local history just by qualifying as one of the world’s top 16 teams – the first time a HK relay has ever done so.


 

A photo posted by StephanieAu 歐鎧淳 (@stephaniehsau) on Aug 5, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT


Though they failed to break the seven-year-old HK record by a hair, they left the pool – a couple perhaps for good – able to reflect on a successful Olympics for themselves and Hong Kong swimming.
“It was just great to be there,” said Au, but after three Olympics, she’s had about enough.
“I’m pretty sure it might be my last one,” she said. “I’m not sure, but at least for me I’ve hit my target here and I’ll see how my body reacts, maybe after half a year of resting and decide to come back or not.”
WATCH: relive the action involving Hong Kong athletes on Day 7 at the Rio Olympics

Au was a hit on social media as the world tuned in, with online commenters wondering – in polite and not-so-polite fashion – who the attractive young lady carrying Hong Kong’s flag was.
Some Chinese media outlets have taken to calling her ‘Oriental Venus’ after her appearance at the Maracana. One columnist even opined, in a piece filed from somewhere in the 1950s: “As for me, let me confess that when I was watching the live telecast I couldn’t believe that the flag-bearer was an athlete, as she looked more like a TVB artiste” – as if that is the non plus ultra for a Hong Kong woman.
Au has done some adverts and photo shoots, but said: “If I don’t continue swimming, I’m not sure what I’ll do. I’ve put my sole focus on this Olympics before anything and wasn’t thinking much of my way out afterwards.


 

好耐冇笑住熱身, 笑住入call room, 笑住比賽，原來比賽可以咁開心，未見到時間成績，都已經可以答你「好滿意」。估唔到我嘅暫時最後一場水，終於俾返我最初落泳池嘅感覺。就係咁單純嘅快樂，我遺忘咗十年⋯⋯ 多謝我嘅隊友努力爭取到嚟奧運嘅資格，從而多咗記者到泳館現場採訪，令更多香港市民留意游泳項目。變相有更多越洋嘅支持同鼓勵，令我可以將拉車嘅阻力想像為香港人俾我嘅推動力。呢個旅程真係唔簡單。漫漫長路行到呢一步，夫復何求。 補充返: 我會好好休息，再決定去向。 Note to self: Always wear a smile. The gift of life will then be yours to give. #peaceout✌
A video posted by StephanieAu 歐鎧淳 (@stephaniehsau) on Aug 12, 2016 at 3:12pm PDT


“I read [some of the articles and comments] and it had put a little bit of pressure on my performance but I’m glad that from the opening ceremony to today it’s been a week and things are cooling off. They’re gonna say what they have to say and I’ll swim what I have to swim.”
Miss Hong Kong 2015, Louisa Mak, is here in Rio reporting for TVB, surely for her in-depth sporting knowledge and not because she was also crowned ‘Miss Photogenic’ in the channel’s throwback pageant.
Au could probably walk into such a role if that’s what she wants, and maybe she will, but she certainly displayed brains and insight to go with the looks as she reflected on her self-growth from her Olympic debut as a 16-year-old at Beijing 2008.
China’s ‘king’ Sun Yang fails to make 1,500m freestyle final due to fever and cold
“It’s been 10ish years [swimming] and it’s been a really life-changing journey because I turned from a swim-train-rest mindless Olympic swimmer to more mature and basically a whole different self,” said ‘Shun BB’ as Chinese internet users have branded her.
“When I was 16 I trained in China and it was physically very tough for me to get through the training – mentally I was just blank, I wasn’t thinking much, I just go, whatever my coach told me, I do it.
“But after I went to the States to study, swimming has become mentally more challenging than ever for me.
“Ever since I get to see the world more, open my horizons, I know there are much more choices than just swimming. It has been a debate and struggle for me whether to continue. 
“When I graduated [with a degree in environmental economics] all my friends were trying to get jobs and things like that but I decided to continue swimming – I almost thought to myself, ‘Is it an escape or the easy way out not to step into society?’ But I’m very glad that I chose to be a full-time athlete especially as it’s very uncommon in Hong Kong.”
Yvette Kong Man-yi is another of the team whose competitive swimming days might be over. Having spoken out about the struggles with depression that led her to quit the sport for a time, she seemed ready for something more mentally rewarding than the constant struggle to beat the pool’s timing clock. She was accepted for a masters degree in performance psychology at Edinburgh University, where she trained for the Games, just a few days ago.
Singapore youngster Joseph Schooling stuns the great Michael Phelps to win Lion City’s first ever gold
“I’m going to take some time and think about what I have for the next few years, refresh myself and focus on my career again,” said the 23-year-old, like relay teammates Au and Camille Cheng also a Berkeley graduate.
“The journey to the Olympics has been such an amazing thing for me ... there’s a lot to process before I can take it all in. I hope I can just learn from these experiences, be a better person and share my experiences with the young people of Hong Kong.”
WATCH: Swimmer Yvette Kong's persistence pays off as she qualifies for her first Olympics

Cheng, 22, is keen to continue representing Hong Kong. Sze Hang-yu, the fourth member of the team, was in absolutely no doubt that she herself would too.
At 28, she was the big sister of the bunch and like Au was competing in a third Olympics.
“We had six girls and one boy [in the swimming squad] and five of them were at their first Olympics – I’m just glad to see them enjoying this big competition,” she said.
“I haven’t had enough swimming yet,” Sze added. “I’ll continue until the Asian Games [2018] and after consider if I should go to 2020. I’ll see if any young swimmers can catch up with me or pass me so I can leave Hong Kong swimming in a better place.”
China gymnast Shang breaks down in tears after losing out on medal and breaks Chinese netizens’ hearts
The team finished in 4:03.85, 0.15 seconds off the record, for 14th place overall.
Job done, Au left with a little message for the Hong Kong officials who have confined them to barracks in Rio.
“My family was here to see me – actually we leave in two days, and probably won’t be allowed to get out and move around though I really want to because we took 30 hours to get here. It would be really nice to go out and see something – but it depends on our chef de mission ...”




Why Hong Kong's Olympics flag-bearer and fan favourite Stephanie Au is ready to quit sport – aged just 24

Stephanie Au carries the flag of Hong Kong during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Hong Kong’s Camille Cheng has indicated she intends to continue swimming after Rio. Photo: Reuters

Stephanie Au Hoi-shun attends Hong Kong International Open Swimming Championships 2014 at Victoria Park Swimming Pool, Causeway Bay. 30AUG14

Swimmer Yvette Kong Man-yi, poses for a picture at Hong Kong Sports Institute in Sha Tin. 27APR16

Sport

Hong Kong

'Oriental Venus', as the Chinese media insist on calling her, has discovered there's more to life than endless laps up and down the pool


'Oriental Venus', as the Chinese media insist on calling her, has discovered there's more to life than endless laps up and down the pool


Rio 2016 Olympic Games