Penn State can wait as Karen Chang defers studies to train for the Rio Olympics
Sabre specialist will wait a year before she enjoys campus life as she tries to rack up enough points to qualify for 2016 Games
Hong Kong fencer Karen Chang Ngai-hing has deferred studying at one of the United States' most prestigious universities to train full time for next year's Rio Olympic Games.
The 19-year-old, who specialises in sabre, received a full scholarship from Penn State University but has put her studies on hold until September 2016 - a month after the Rio Games, where she hopes to make her mark.
I chose Penn State because they always achieve good results in NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] fencing competitions
"The scholarship covers my tuition fees and book fees and I am excited about taking this course but I am taking a year off my studies," said Chang, who hopes to fly commercial jets one day.
"I chose Penn State because they always achieve good results in NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] fencing competitions. I believe they have a systematic training programme. They value their athletes a lot. This is the thing I love the most about Penn State.
"I haven't chosen my major yet. I will choose my major in my second semester of my sophomore year. I am planning to major in aerospace engineering because I want to be a commercial pilot."