Hong Kong cyclist Jamie Wong looks at life beyond the saddle
Jamie Wong achieved many firsts under the Bauhinia flag and won people's hearts in the city for her gutsy efforts on the track, but now she's ready for a new chapter
Jamie Wong Wan-yiu watched the video of herself lying battered and bleeding on the track and wondered where she had summoned the strength to climb back on her bike, ignore a broken rib and damaged lungs, to pedal to a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
That one moment encapsulated Wong's cycling career, one sprinkled with many "firsts" and seasoned with courage, bravery, determination and no small amount of talent.
I watched the video footage recently and still could not figure out where the power to finish the race came from
At the age of 28, Wong says it is time to move on and take a new direction in life after a successful decade-long career, where she became the first female cyclist from Hong Kong to win a medal at a regional competition, the first female cyclist to race in the track World Cup series at the age of 19 - later winning gold in 2008 - and the first female cyclist to qualify for the Olympics.
But perhaps her greatest achievement came at the Guangzhou velodrome five years ago when she was sent flying in a pile-up during the 20km points race, and got up to win the hearts of many Hongkongers with her "never-say-die" spirit.
"I watched the video footage recently and still could not figure out where the power to finish the race came from," she said.
"Perhaps it was because it was the last time the points race was being held at the Asian Games and I knew I would never have another chance . Also, the team, the coach and many other people had high hopes in the event and I could not let them down."