Do you prefer individual or team sports and why? 

I enjoy both. Nothing beats the camaraderie of a team, and working towards a win together, particularly when everyone is playing well and it just clicks—that’s magic. 

That being said, I think what I loved about swimming (and tennis to a certain extent) is that you are part of a team, but you are solely accountable to yourself for your success or failure. Yes, you are trying to score points for the overall team score, but I liked the control of individual events. I was going to do well or not based on the work I put into it.

When/how often and where do you do sport? 

A perfect week includes three swims at Swim Lab at Stanley Ho Swimming Pool in Pok Fu Lam (one of the most beautiful pools in Hong Kong), two days weight training, and a hike or yoga (I use the Daily Yoga app) on the weekend. I don’t have many perfect weeks but that’s the aspiration. Despite being the CEO of Splash, my own swimming (and general fitness) has deteriorated over the last five years, so I’m trying to rebuild. This takes longer when you get older, so I’m trying to find the right balance of what works for me at this stage. 

See also: Michelle Yong on rowing for the men's boat at university, sport’s role in self-care and the lessons learned from defeat

How do you make sure you fit sport into your schedule? Any tips or strategies on how to do so as a busy executive? 

Perhaps it’s the years of early morning practice, but if I don’t exercise in the morning, it just doesn’t happen. Swimming in particular in the morning is a perfect combination of exercise, meditation and a little bit of sociability—you get to chit chat between sets, but nothing too taxing. I try to be religious about the commitment, as I know it’s the only time of day that works for me. 

How has/does sport help you personally and professionally? 

I think sport helps build work ethic and accountability. One of my favourite quotes is ‘Don’t get upset with the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do’. When I haven’t been happy with results—either personally or professionally, it requires me to be honest with myself about what I could be doing differently. I am an incredibly hard worker and while I may get discouraged at an outcome or result, I don’t get deterred or derailed easily. I absolutely think sport helps you build these skills. I also think sport gives you the skills of ‘chunking’ or breaking things down into manageable parts. It’s an essential skill whether you are facing an enormous project or a gruelling race or workout.

See also: Mei Sian Tan on why 5am is her “golden time”, the role sport plays in achieving mental clarity and what the Olympics means to her

Do you have a proudest sporting moment or achievement? 

I'm most proud of creating the Blue January challenge in 2021. I had the idea of swimming every day in open water with the goal of finding 31 monthly donors for Splash. At this point during Covid-19, pools were closed, we couldn’t run our usual fundraisers and everything was feeling quite bleak. I am not comfortable in open water, nor had any experience swimming in cold water. The first few days were tough, but the swim community responded immediately. It was a physical and social outlet which we all desperately needed and around day seven I just got into the zone. Once I have that level of focus, I am on auto-pilot. I loved how it brought people together, helped Splash through a difficult time and how, personally, I overcame (most) of my fear of swimming in the open water. We ended up getting 61 monthly donors, many of whom still support Splash to this day and it is now an annual event. Sometimes the best ideas are the crazy, last minute ones! 

Why do you think people who play sport are more likely to achieve in the workplace?

Sport has a lot to teach us about ourselves and other people. There are so many transferable skills, from perseverance and problem solving to team dynamics and how to motivate people around you. I am a big believer that sports are a great incubator for the corporate world. 

See also: Fransisca Harlijanto on the call of mountaineering, the benefits of competition, and what sport has taught her about success

Why is sport important for girls/women in particular? 

It is such a huge confidence booster. When you discover what amazing things your body can do and achieve, it has a trickle down effect. It just gives you an inherent confidence about your capabilities. It also broadens friendship groups, which is really helpful, especially for teen girls. In high school, I made different friends with each sport I played, but all of those friendships were incredibly important to me. Two of my daughters play rugby in Hong Kong, which allows them to make friends from other schools. Having different pockets of friends can be really helpful when navigating what can be a really turbulent time for teenagers. 

What are you most excited about for Paris 2024? 

Like many Hong Kongers, I’m so excited to see what Siobhan [Haughey] and the entire Hong Kong team is able to accomplish in the pool. In a city where half the population is unable to swim, it is a seminal moment that will hopefully inspire and encourage swimming at all levels. With a city as well-resourced as Hong Kong, it is imperative that we make learning to swim accessible to everyone.

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