Every time Chloe Pak Hoi-man stands at the starting line, the 18-year-old feels a familiar sense of fear as she stares down the 10 hurdles she must clear.
But after nearly seven years of hurdling, the Hong Kong student-athlete has learned to channel that fear into motivation. This mindset also helps her chase another lofty ambition: becoming a doctor for her home city.
One hurdle at a time, Pak breaks records while balancing the demands of her studies.
In 2023 as a secondary school student, she became the record-holder in Hong Kong’s under-18 and under-20 women’s 100m hurdles – breaking a 34-year-old record before beating her own time again a few months later.
Last year, she scored 37 points in her best six subjects in the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) and was admitted to the University of Hong Kong to study medicine through a scheme for top athletes.
“Every time I pass a hurdle, I feel a sense of achievement. I don’t see hurdles as obstacles blocking my way, but rather as something for me to overcome,” she said. “If I apply this mindset to my life, no matter what challenges I face in the future, I will be braver in confronting them.”
With the DSE exams beginning this month, Pak encouraged Hong Kong students to “keep dashing”.
“This is the final stretch ... This stage may not be easy, but once you get through it, you’ll realise just how strong you are,” she said. “Remember, your life is not defined by a single exam; there are countless possibilities ahead.”
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Finding balance on and off the track
As a first-year student, Pak is constantly finding new aspects of medicine that inspire her, but dedicating time to her studies is not easy when she trains four days a week.
“It’s important not to see my interests as a burden. I enjoy both medicine and athletics, and I have goals in both areas. So, I will keep working hard,” she said.
Pak first considered medicine after shadowing a doctor at a hospital and observing his interactions with patients.
“He didn’t just know their medical histories – he knew their personal stories, their struggles and their challenges. That really touched me,” she said.
“If I become a doctor, I truly hope to cultivate this same empathy and passion, so I’m not just healing patients’ bodies but also comforting their hearts.”
Pak, who is in her first year of medical school, is especially interested in sports medicine and hopes to one day help Hong Kong athletes by researching how they can recover from injuries while continuing to train.
“When athletes get injured, they often have to stop training, which can be incredibly difficult – especially when they are preparing for major competitions,” she said. “Besides physical therapy, sports medicine plays a crucial role.”
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Next year, the hurdler will begin competing at the senior level, which will require more rigorous preparation.
In the past, Pak said she used to multitask by studying during breaks while training. But she soon realised that it left her too exhausted to perform well in both areas. Now, she keeps training and studying separate, relieving her academic stress by running.
For her, the biggest source of pressure comes from her own expectations. She recalled moments of doubt when she first joined the Hong Kong team as a Form Five pupil.
“I often questioned whether I should continue down this path ... Would I be able to handle it?” she shared.
But as she has spent more time facing her fear of failure, she has found ways to cope.
“Many students and athletes struggle with this too. We all want to do well, to prove ourselves and to avoid disappointing our families or those around us. The key to overcoming this is shifting our mindset,” she said.
“We don’t always have to chase the highest scores ... As long as we give our all, there should be no regrets.”
Challenges faced by Hong Kong’s student-athletes
With the recent wave of Hong Kong sportspeople making their mark on the global sporting stage, the city’s government has increased funding for elite athletes by 8.3 per cent starting this month.
Full-time athletes eligible for the Elite Training Grant receive between HK$7,130 and HK$44,500 a month, depending on how they do in international competitions.
But for many student-athletes, this emphasis on performance could make it tough to decide whether they should pursue their dreams, Pak said.
“In Hong Kong, there is often a strong focus on results,” she noted, adding that this approach did not recognise the efforts of student-athletes.
“[But] if you enjoy what you’re doing and experience personal growth along the way, that is more valuable than just achieving results.”
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The hurdler encouraged student-athletes not to give up on their passion for sports.
“Sports ... teach valuable life lessons that apply to other areas, like academics. If I hadn’t been involved in track and hurdles, I wouldn’t be as resilient as I am today,” she shared.
Last year, Pak won the Sportsperson category at the Student of the Year Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Pak hopes to continue pursuing her personal best in sports and eventually wants to be a doctor in Hong Kong.
“Everything I have achieved – my growth, my opportunities – has happened in Hong Kong. That’s why I have no plans to practise medicine elsewhere,” she said.
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Stop and think: How does Chloe Pak face her fear of failure in her sport and in her studies?
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Why this story matters: Exam season can be incredibly taxing on students, but Chloe Pak’s words are a reminder to bravely face every hurdle and focus on giving your all.
