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Mike Chan

Hong Kong swimmer Michael Cheuk Ming-ho has revealed he was expelled from the city’s representative team last December for multiple disciplinary breaches, including during the Asian Games.
But Cheuk, who holds seven individual city records and shares four relay records, claimed he had no idea what rules he had broken.
The city’s head coach Chen Jianhong struck back on Friday by posting a series of screenshots on social media – later verified by the swimmer – that showed Cheuk apologising to him.
Chen posted what were believed to be instant messages between him and Cheuk last year, writing alongside that he had no plans to get involved with anything not related to the forthcoming Paris Olympics.
“But there are such nasty people in this world, so I can only publish the conversations,” he wrote. “The black sheep must be removed and I shall not respond any further before the Games.”


The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) later told the Post that Cheuk’s misdemeanours included unexcused absences and a bad attitude.
In the first screenshot, Cheuk, in a message dated July 24, 2023 – two months before the Asian Games in Hangzhou – apologised to Chen and admitted he “made a massive mistake and affected the Hong Kong team”.
The next day, Chen and Cheuk continued to text about whether the latter should be readmitted, with Chen saying it depended on whether coach Xue Ruipeng agreed. Cheuk acknowledged it.
The last message between the two was on Thursday when Chen told Cheuk the media had inquired about his dismissal.
“I discussed with the institute and the [swimming] association,” he wrote. “Given the incident involves your privacy, only our coaching staff, the institute and the top management of the association know about the violation.
“We can’t publicise your matter, for it will affect your future.”
Cheuk confirmed to the Post the screen captures were actual messages. The 22-year-old said the message last July referred to training in Kunming, mainland China.
“There was one day I went out to have coffee with a girl after training,” he said. “I was wrong to not tell my coach, but I went back to my room before 10pm. My coach was not at the hotel either but an incident report was sent to Chen.”
Cheuk, who swam in six events in Hangzhou, said he did not know what rules he broke during the Games.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Cheuk Ming Ho 卓銘浩 (@michael_cheukmingho)



The HKSI told the Post of three offences between January and November 2023 that led to Cheuk’s dismissal. First, multiple unexcused absences from training and a bad attitude towards a coach.
Next, a breach while training in mainland China last July, prompting a written apology. Finally, multiple violations in October and November, while training poorly and not performing up to standard.
Zhang Diyong, another Hong Kong team coach, commented on Chen’s post.
“People should dare to act and take responsibility, and face their consequences by themselves,” he wrote. “Cheuk’s results in the pool are good, but it’s also undeniable about disobeying rules and breaching discipline.”
Cheuk, who broke his right arm in May last year during practice, said the focus should be on pressure put on him when he requested to swim in fewer competitions.
He said a club coach threatened to ask Hong Kong team coaches to remove him from the Asian Games squad if he did not swim in eight races at the Hong Kong Open Swimming Championships last August.
The city’s swimming association declined to comment.


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Hong Kong

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‘Black sheep must be removed,’ city’s head coach says as Paris Olympics loom, while Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms discipline breaches


‘Black sheep must be removed,’ city’s head coach says as Paris Olympics loom, while Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms discipline breaches.


Hong Kong Sports Institute

Why was swimmer expelled from Hong Kong squad? He pleads ignorance as coach reveals texts

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}‘Black sheep must be removed,’ city’s head coach says as Paris Olympics loom, while Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms discipline breaches

‘Black sheep must be removed,’ city’s head coach says as Paris Olympics loom, while Hong Kong Sports Institute confirms discipline breaches