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It has almost been ten years since Wan Kin-Yee become a frequent winner in local races. But it was until 2005 Macau East Asian Games that she first won an individual medal in Multi sports games. No wonder she sighed and said “Sweetness comes at the end of sufferings” after the medal-winning game. Although she has not yet fulfilled her Olympic dreams, she regards leading the Hong Kong team to Doha Asian Games to be her biggest mission at the time.
Many consider running boring. It takes a great deal of patience to compete with time on the track. However, the six records’ holder thought that training is by nature monotonous. It doesn’t matter what sport one plays. She added, “it was the room for improvement that drives you forward day by day.” Wan first learnt the taste of victory when she won a 60 metre race in a school competition. She was only a primary four student. This experience kept her spending more and more time on the tracks. She recalled, “At school, I always ran faster than the boys. This sense of satisfaction is what supported my training.” Wan was so determined to run well. She transferred from St. Teresa Secondary School to St. Stephen’s College, just to follow her coach Yue Lik.
Wan Kin-Yee succeeded to keep her “short run queen” title for years, but injuries have taken away her chances to run in big games. “I hurt my left ankle in the summer of 1999. At that time I was so eager to strive for a chance to participate in Sydney Olympic Games, that I delayed again and again the time for operation. But things didn’t come my way, while I received my surgical operation on January 2001, I missed Osaka East Asian Games. I qualified to participate in Busan Asian Games to be held on October 2002, but I hurt my thigh muscle that on June that year. My heart sank to the bottom. For a time I could not resume my training.” Disappointment and anguish were still on Wan’s face when she recalled these discouraging memories.
Efforts were rewarded in Macau East Asian Games 2005. Wan won a bronze medal in 200 meter’s run, and led Chan Ho-Yee, Leung Shuk-Wa and Pang Hok-Man to win a 4X100 meter bronze medal. Despite the achievement to win a double in the Games, what impressed Wan was the performance of her junior team-mates, who seemed capable of taking up her responsibility. Wan Kin-Yee admitted that she has long since started to consider retiring from international tournaments. But since the relay team started training, broke Hong Kong record for four times and historically won a short run medal in East Asian Games, her wish to compete in 2006 Asian Games glowed again. Thirties is the twilight for many runners. But for Wan, there is no need for planning in life. She said, “When I got married in 2002 (Pat Kowk-Wai, former Hong Kong short run athletic and now trainer, her husband), I felt that was the right time. So I did it. I didn’t think much retirement. Still, I will concentrate on 100 meter run training. I’ve shared the 100 meter Hong Kong record (11”73) with Chan Sau-ying for six years. I want to make it my own record.” Accommodate
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