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Patrick Blennerhassett

The international swimming community has expressed its condolences after the shock death of Kenneth To, a 26-year-old record breaking swimmer from Hong Kong.
Many swimmers, including American Ryan Lochte, have taken to Twitter to offer condolences and share thoughts on the swimmer.
To was seen as one of Hong Kong’s strongest competitors heading into qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
“Words cannot express how saddened I am at the passing of Kenneth To,” Lochte, the second-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history with 12 medals, said. “The world has lost an incredible human being.”

“I’m so grateful to have been able to call him a friend and to have gotten to know him over the past several years,” Lochte said.
“He was not only a fierce competitor, but more importantly, he was a really good person. My heart goes out to his family, his girlfriend and friends. I’ll miss you buddy.”

Jamaican swimmer and Olympian Alia Atkinson said that the 1.7-metres tall To was an inspiration for shorter swimmers.
“He was such a light and pure guy,” Atkinson wrote on Instagram. “He will always be my example for any swimmer that puts boundaries on themselves from their height, work ethic, whatever.
“I would show swimmers who are struggling, insecure, self conscious, his videos, and they would be amazed by his underwaters, beating men maybe a foot or more taller than him.”












View this post on Instagram



















Definitely a shock. He was such a light and pure guy. He will always be my example for any swimmer that puts boundaries on themselves from their height, work ethic, whatever. I would show swimmers who are struggling, insecure, self conscious, his videos, and they would be amazed by his underwaters, beating men maybe a foot or more taller than him. The mental strength of this man 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 in their entire career, expecially since he did it with a smile. Kenneth To, You will not be forgotten, and your example will always be that of strength, resilience and a smile in the face of adversity in competition and in life. I hope your family will be honoured by the prayers, love, support and feeling of pride as they hear from the swimmers and people Kenneth has impacted in such a short time.
A post shared by Alia Atkinson, CD (@alia_atkinson) on Mar 19, 2019 at 4:06am PDT



“The mental strength of this man 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 in their entire career, especially since he did it with a smile,” Atkinson said.
“Kenneth To, you will not be forgotten, and your example will always be that of strength, resilience and a smile in the face of adversity in competition and in life.
“I hope your family will be honoured by the prayers, love, support and feeling of pride as they hear from the swimmers and people Kenneth has impacted in such a short time.”

One of the nicest guys I ever had the pleasure of traveling with. RIP Kenneth, taken too soon. https://t.co/3iCi4H97ZL
— Jessica Hardy (@swimhardy) March 19, 2019

Former US swimmer Jessica Hardy, who retired in 2016, said that To was “one of the nicest guys I ever had the pleasure of travelling with. RIP Kenneth, taken too soon”.
British swimmer Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, who is 23 years old and won a silver medal in the 200-metres individual medley at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, said she was “shocked and saddened” by the news.
“A lovely guy, taken far too soon. Sending my love to his family and friends at this awful time,” O’Connor said.

So shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Kenneth To. A lovely guy, taken far too soon. Sending my love to his family and friends at this awful time️
— Siobhan-M O'Connor (@SiobhanMOConnor) March 19, 2019

American swimmer Kyle Sockwell, who previously swam for Arizona State University, said he had heard “nothing but great things about [To]”.
USA Swimming also offered their condolences with a tweet: “Our thoughts are with Kenneth To’s family & friends.”


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Kenneth To death: ‘the world has lost an incredible human being’ Ryan Lochte says, as swimming community mourns

Kenneth To’s death is being mourned by the swimming community. Photo: Handout

Ryan Lochte (centre) and Kenneth To (left) on the podium at the 2012 Short Course Swimming World Championships

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 18, 2013 Kenneth To of Australia celebrates after winning the men's 100m Breaststroke race on the second and last day of the fourth stage of the 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup in Dubai. - Record-breaking Hong Kong and Australia swimmer Kenneth To has died suddenly aged 26 after falling unwell at a Florida training camp, officials said on March 19, 2019. (Photo by MARWAN NAAMANI / AFP)

Kenneth To, record-breaking Hong Kong swimmer, dies aged 26 in Florida – ‘a huge loss to local sports’

Kenneth To King-him at the Hong Kong Festival of Sports in April 2018. He died at the age of 26 in the US on Monday night. Photo: Winson Wong

Photo:

Sun Yang pays tribute to Kenneth To after shock death at 26 – ‘may there be no pain in heaven’

Kenneth To King-him (second left) with Sun Yang (left) and their joint relay team at the 2017 China National Games. They won silver. Photo: Facebook/Kenneth To

Kenneth To King-him swims in the Men 50 LC Meter Butterfly during Hong Kong Festival of Sports Swimming Long Course Time Trial at Hong Kong Sports Institute, Fo Tan. 14APR18. SCMP / Winson Wong

Kenneth To King-him competes in Men's 100 meter freestyle of FINA / air weave Swimming World Cup 2017 at the Victoria Park Swimming Pool in Causeway Bay. 30SEP17 SCMP / Felix Wong

Sun Yang poses with Kenneth To

Kenneth To was once ‘the best swimmer in the world, pound for pound’ – Australia pays tribute to former star

Kenneth To at the 2017 Swimming World Cup in Causeway Bay. He died aged 26 on Monday night in the US after a training session. Photo: Felix Wong

Sport

Hong Kong

Olympic legend Lochte leads international stars of swimming in expressing their condolences
Hong Kong record breaker To hailed as inspiration for shorter swimmers and an example of mental strength in the face of adversity


Olympic legend Lochte leads international stars of swimming in expressing condolences, with Hong Kong record breaker To hailed as an inspiration.


Australia