Chan Yui-lam burst into tears as she stepped onto the podium at the Paris Paralympic Games in August.
At 20 years old, Chan won a silver medal in the women’s S14 100-metre butterfly event. The Hongkonger proudly held up her medal and Eiffel Tower plush toy.
“Stepping on the podium has fulfilled my dream ... I’m so honoured,” said Chan, a full-time athlete who recently celebrated her 21st birthday.
“It is so rare [to get a medal], and the preparation process for the Paralympics was very hard.”
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Early years
Chan has an intellectual disability. She sometimes struggles to understand what others are saying.
“Most people know that I have this kind of intellectual disability, but they might not know the best way to communicate with me,” Chan explained through a Cantonese translator. “[Most] people can express meaning with facial expressions and tone, but I can only understand the direct meaning.”
When Chan was about 10 years old, her mother signed her up for swim lessons.
“I was really afraid of swimming in the beginning because I could not reach the bottom of the pool,” she said.
Chan added that she also struggled to communicate with her coach.
“The coach will give verbal instructions, and I may not be able to understand what the instruction is about,” she said. “I can understand better with visuals.”
But after attending more classes, she began to enjoy the sport. As she trained more, she joined international competitions and started winning awards.
Road to the Paralympics
Chan’s dreams of success became a reality when she qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics. “I was so shocked!” she said. “I didn’t expect to be able to go there.”
Chan was nervous about her first Paralympics. To her surprise, she placed fourth in the women’s S14 100-metre butterfly final. The S14 category is for athletes with intellectual impairments.
Chan missed out on a bronze medal, but this motivated her to prepare for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
“My experience swimming in the Tokyo Paralympics improved my mental preparation, which made me calm [for Paris],” she shared. “I really wanted to be on the podium.”
In Paris, her best race was, once again, the women’s S14 100-metre butterfly final. Chan finished in 1:03.70. She won a silver medal and also set a new Asian record.
As soon as she got out of the pool, Chan jumped around in celebration, waving to the crowd.
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A space for athletes of all abilities
Chan was inspired by the incredible talent at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics.
“Everyone learns from each other,” she said.
Chan was grateful for the television stations that showed the Paralympics. But most people pay more attention to the Olympics. She hopes there can be more promotion around Paralympic sports.
As a successful para-swimmer, Chan is becoming an inspiration for young athletes with disabilities. Her advice is to imagine a goal and work towards it.
“No matter what kind of disability you may have, set a clear goal. There is no boundary within you,” she said.
Chan is taking her own advice as she prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
“When I got second place in the Paris Paralympics, I told myself that I would get a gold medal and a world record next time,” she said.
Reflect: What do you know about Hong Kong’s Paralympic athletes?
Why this story matters: Hong Kong’s team won a total of eight medals at the Paris Paralympic Games. We should celebrate the hard work of the city’s para-athletes.
