One day is not enough to celebrate women. So beyond International Women’s Day, we keep the light shining on Hong Kong’s female athletes who have topped everything from Mount Everest to Olympic podiums
Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Roger Federer are perhaps the first names that pop in mind when we think of top-rated athletes. But beyond these famous male athletes, who are highly sought-after by fans and sponsors, there are many incredible female athletes who also deserve the recognition, and Hong Kong’s sportswomen are no exception.
Be it karate, swimming, wheelchair fencing or windsurfing, this city's female athletes have broken world records and won medals time and again at international competitions. We shine the spotlight on eight such sportswomen who have represented Hong Kong and are inspiring future generations of athletes.
You might also like: Nor ‘Phoenix’ Diana on pro wrestling as performance art and representation in the sport
1. Lee Lai-shan
Windsurfer Lee Lai-shan, also known as the “Queen of the Wind”, who had taken up the sport when she was only 12, went on to win Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold medal in 1996. The Cheung Chau resident had famously declared on the Olympic podium: “Hong Kong athletes are not rubbish”. She won several other gold and silver medals at international events before retiring in 2004.