‘It hurts so much to admit he’s actually gone’ – Kenneth To’s girlfriend opens up on his shock death
- Hong Kong swimmer and Kelly Kwong had been a couple since meeting at the World Cup meet here in 2015
- To credited Kelly for introducing him to the Hong Kong Sports Institute and said she was one of the reasons he returned from Australia
He also leaves behind his girlfriend, Kelly Kwong Ka-yi, who was left devastated by the Hong Kong record-breaking swimmer’s death in Florida. He had been training at the Gator Swim Club of the University of Florida, and died in hospital after feeling unwell following a warm-up before practice.
To, who was born in Hong Kong but emigrated to Australia at the age of two, had always said that one of the reasons he returned to the city in 2016 was because he wanted to be with Kwong. They had met for the first time a year earlier and their love blossomed.
To met Kwong during the 2015 World Cup short-course meeting in Hong Kong where Kwong worked as an announcer. They had a lot of things in common, not least their love for the sport.
Kwong’s parents are swimming instructors and run the Lai Wa Swimming Club. She also trained as a swimmer and understands the kind of work needed to be a world-class swimmer.
She took a different path to To, graduating from the language department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and completing a masters in speech therapy at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She works as a speak therapist.
To had praised Kwong for introducing him to Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Sports Institute, where he continued his swimming career in the most prominent way, producing 17 Hong Kong records.