Hong Kong short-track speed skaters eager to race against world’s best at Winter Olympics
Darren Kwok, who was a reserve four years in Beijing, and Joey Lam are in South Korea for their final preparations
Hong Kong speed skater Darren Kwok Tsz-fung said he was excited to finally race against the world’s elite when he competes at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina next month.
Kwok, who served as a reserve at the 2022 Beijing Games four years ago, is one of two short-track speed skaters from the city to be selected for the Games in Italy.
This will be the sixth time the city will compete at the highest level of winter sport.
“When I met those top athletes back then, I could only dream of competing against them,” Kwok, 21, said. “Now that dream is coming true, and I am thrilled for the Games ahead.”
The International Skating Union (ISU) confirmed in December that the city’s team had earned quota places in the men’s 1,000m and 1,500m short-track events.
The Hong Kong, China Skating Union later named Kwok to compete, citing his “outstanding performance in the 500m event”, while 2022 Olympian Sidney Chu would serve as the reserve.