EdUHK Elite Athlete Students Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi Visit Campus Share Personal Growth and Olympic Gold Medal Experiences with Faculty and Students
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) elite athlete students, twin sisters Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, who each won two gold medals in artistic swimming at the Olympic Games in Paris, visited EdUHK’s Tai Po campus today (4 October) to receive their student identification cards, officially becoming part of the EdUHK family. They then joined a gathering to share their journey of sports, studies, personal growth, and Olympic success with EdUHK’s faculty and students.
During the event, EdUHK Council Treasurer Ms Imma Ling Kit-sum, President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Vice President (Academic) Professor May Cheng May-hung, Vice-President (Administration) Dr Tom Fong Wing-ho, Registrar Professor Eric Tsang Po-keung and Council Member Dr Henry Ho Kin-chung presented Liuyi and Qianyi with EdUHK 30th Anniversary souvenirs and student identification cards. In return, Liuyi and Qianyi presented the university with a signed photo of themselves from the Paris Olympics as a token of appreciation.
In his speech, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin said that EdUHK is an elite athlete friendly university, encouraging athlete students to pursue dual-pathway development. Liuyi and Qianyi will become ambassadors of artistic swimming at the University, collaboratively organising related activities on campus to promote a sporting culture.
Professor Lee also remarked, “Years of unwavering training propel athletes to the global stage. Liuyi and Qianyi demonstrate perseverance, resilience and passion that we should all aspire to emulate, both in our academic and personal lives. I hope that all students and staff at EdUHK can draw inspiration from them and pursue their dreams with the same enthusiasm.”
Liuyi and Qianyi engaged in a meaningful conversation with an audience of almost 200 people, including faculty and students from EdUHK. A sharing session was hosted by EdUHK Department of Health and Physical Education Senior Lecturer Dr Lobo Louie Hung-tak. Associate Professor Dr Sun Fenghua, and Hong Kong wushu athlete and EdUHK alumna Chen Suijin asked questions on behalf of the audience. Topics ranged from overcoming challenges in pursuing their dreams, managing time effectively between academic studies and sports, adjusting their mindset before major competitions, to the advantages of being twins in the field of artistic swimming.
When asked about their interest in EdUHK's doctoral program, the sisters mentioned that EdUHK is a renowned teacher training university in Hong Kong with a long legacy of nurturing generations of educators. This resonates with their journey in rhythmic swimming, where the achievements of many predecessors have paved the way for their success. They chose to pursue their doctoral studies at EdUHK to gain more professional knowledge, with aspirations of becoming international referees or representing the country in international sports organisations, or even working in the education sector to pass on their expertise to future generations.
The audience, including fellow students, teachers, council members, and media reporters, actively engaged with Liuyi and Qianyi. In response to questions about balancing between sports training and academic studies, they acknowledged that their national team obligations are ongoing and expressed their intent to communicate with their mentors regarding study schedules. EdUHK, as an Elite Athlete Friendly University, offers flexible learning arrangements. When asked if they would explore the integration of technology in sports during their doctoral studies, Liuyi and Qianyi expressed that they had previously benefited from advanced technology while preparing for the Olympics and had gained valuable insights from training and competitions. They hope to merge their athletic experiences with research to produce meaningful outcomes.
A student from the EdUHK Jockey Club Primary School also asked how to improve flexibility in gymnastics or swimming. Liuyi and Qianyi suggested incorporating stretching exercises into daily routines, such as stretching while reading. The sisters then demonstrated different water movements and strokes used in artistic swimming, creating a fun and heartwarming atmosphere.
The sharing session between Liuyi and Qianyi, and the EdUHK community was lively and enthusiastic, with applause and cheers following the sisters wherever they went. Faculty and students eagerly took photos with them, and as they left in a car, they made heart-shaped gestures to the students who came to see them off.
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