Chloe Pak Hoi-man, an 18-year-old medical student at the University of Hong Kong, recalled how she started her journey in track and field during primary school.
“During the school’s sports day in Primary One, I hadn’t trained at all, but I still came second in the 100-metre race. I realised I had some talent and decided to try athletics,” she explained.
While Pak initially focused on sprinting, she wanted to challenge herself and learn something new in Primary Six. She transitioned to hurdles after meeting her current coach, Tang Hon-sing.
“He thought I was fast and tall, so he recommended I try hurdles,” Pak said.
“Hurdles involve crossing obstacles, unlike running straight lines in sprints. When I first started, I hesitated a lot, worrying about falling or getting injured. Over time, I learned to focus on mastering techniques rather than worrying.”
Over the years, she has faced hurdles in her athletic career.
During the pandemic, training opportunities were limited.
“All the sports grounds were closed, and we could only do fitness training at home,” she said.
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She recalled a local event where she fell just before the finishing line and lost the race.
“It was devastating and made me afraid of hurdling again. It felt like going back to square one,” she said.
However, she eventually found a way to move forward by viewing each hurdle as an opportunity for growth rather than a potential for failure.
Her persistence paid off.
Pak has broken the Hong Kong under-18 and under-20 records in the women’s 100-metre hurdle and achieved her personal best at the 2023 Asian Youth Athletics Championships, where she won silver.
She was also the winner in the Sportsperson category at last year’s prestigious Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
Balancing academics and athletics is a constant challenge, but Pak has found ways to manage her time.
“Instead of staying up late to study after training, I started waking up early to study before school. It was tiring, but it allowed me to maintain my training while staying prepared for exams,” she said.
“On days without training, I worked hard on my studies, even sacrificing leisure time.”
Her interest in medicine developed naturally alongside her athletic journey.
“Aside from the fact that I am deeply intrigued by the intricacies of the human body, I am also drawn to the human side of medicine,” Pak said.
Shadowing doctors during internships revealed how medicine goes beyond clinical diagnoses – she learned the value of building deeper connections with patients, built on compassion and trust. These experiences have reinforced her commitment to becoming a doctor.
Pak’s athletic career has also expanded her horizons.
“Athletics has given me opportunities to visit places like Kuwait and Uzbekistan ... These trips allow me to meet athletes from different cultures and gain new perspectives,” she said.
Looking ahead, Pak aims to continue excelling in academics and athletics, with the goal of competing in the Asian Championships and breaking the Hong Kong hurdles record.
She also hopes to inspire young athletes through community outreach programmes that encourage a balance between academics and sports.
“If you find something that brings you joy, don’t be afraid to pursue it,” she said.
