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Having clinched his first All-China Games gold medal for Hong Kong back in 2005, Steven Wong made his name loud and clear overnight.
Not only did he become the third-ever All-China Games gold medalist for Hong Kong, there even came an invitation from the Belgian national team, seeking his services of course. Yet, the half-breed teenage boy never shattered his determination to fight for glory, together with the Hong Kong, China Delegation jersey, he is also yearning for the journey to Beijing, so as to complete his Olympic dreams in two years’ time.
18-year-old Steven Wong, son of a local born Chinese father and a Belgian mother, was granted a half-breed, somehow “weird” name, Wang Shitifen, as printed on his HKID card.
Born and brought up in Belgium, Steven Wong always makes use of his holiday for a trip back to Hong Kong, visiting his grandma and aunt. It was during a usual visit back in 2003 that kicked start his athlete career as a Hong Kong representative, after demonstrating his superb riding skill in a local competition, organized by the Hong Kong Cycling Association.
However, it is all too surprising to discover that BMX was not the priority sport for Steven, only second to soccer, which topped his preferences when he was young. And it was only by coincidence that he pedaled himself into a professional career.
Recalling his memories, Steven was pedaling around in a training court near his home at the start of the Millennium, it was where he met his current coach and agent, Nico van Dartel. Nico approached Steven’s father in person a few days later, and persuaded him to let his beloved son to join the team for proper training.
Steven’s father, who ran a restaurant in Belgium, was quoted as saying, “Steven is always an energetic kid, it is very lucky for his talents to be spotted, and of course I will support him. Having a target is important to youngsters”. On Steven’s twelve-year-old birthday, he received a second-hand BMX bike, valued at HKD5, 000, as a present from his father. It is the same bike that won him the first of his many champion’s trophies later on.
“I rode the BMX as a pastime at the beginning, it is challenging, exciting, and fun. I never expected to clinch the title on my first-ever race though, yet I got another win in the very next game. Wow! You know, it is fantastic being a winner, so I practiced more and more, hoping to improve my biking skills, consequently, I fell in love with BMX,” said Steven. Ever since his victory in Belgium Champion Boys 13 category in 2001, Steven faced no more opponents of his age groups in the country, he then tasted the sweet and sour of competing in European Elite class two years later, where he made himself the no. 3 men in Europe.
Steven’s time came at last. When International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced last year that BMX will be a new sport event in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 10th All-China Games tried to hit the trend by fitting this traditional European sport onto their sport programme, thus providing the springboard, and paving the path to gold for Steven.
With BMX being the sport only in its budding stage, notably in China and across Asia, riders are strong built in general, yet with merely no techniques at all. During the summer before the All-China Games, all Chinese representatives rode their BMXs as if they are riding ordinary bikes. With regards to the poor preparation of his Chinese counterparts, Steven, who spent perhaps the best of his learning years back there in Europe and competing against the best, can clinched the gold medal with ease. Steven proved his superiority over the sport in Asia yet again in six months’ time, notching two more golds at the 1st Asian BMX Championship and the All-China Championship, just in time to celebrate his 18th birthday.
Having swept across Asia and adding the number of victories to his name, the young lad’s ambition is high as the sky, setting his heart on winning the gold in Beijing Olympic at 2008. “Olympic is not only a dream, but also a target to strive for. Of course, the Olympic standard is way higher than any Asian races, one have to beat quite some top cyclists before clinching the qualification, and do not forget, all opponents are professional ones from across Europe and America, whom I am still lagging behind in terms of overall strength,” admitted the 18-years-old cyclist.
Steven, who was just enrolled in a Belgian sports university, added that his coach had set some specific training schemes for him, aiming to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. “I will have to go for frequent trips across Europe and America once the new season starts, to compete in as many professional races as possible, allowing myself to adapt to different circuses. Most importantly, I need to participate in as many international races as possible in order to gain enough ranking points for the Olympics,” said the ambitious young rider.
Steven WONG profile
Name: Steven WONG
Parents: Father (Hong Kong), Mother (Belgium)
Birthday: 28th April 1988 (18 years old)
Birthplace: Belgium
Living place: Dessel, Belgium
Height: 1.66m
Weight: 64kg
Event: BMX
Hobbies: Online chatting, Music, Cross-country cycling, Soccer
Favorite music: Hip-Hop, R & B
Favorite food: Spaghetti, Pizza
Personal website: www.steven-wong.net
Coach: Nico van Dartel
Team: Free Agent World Team
Major results (BMX):
2001 Belgium Champion Boys 13
2002 Belgium Champion Boys 15
2003 European #3 Boys 15, Belgium Champion Boys 16
2004 Belgium #3 Elite Men, World #7 in Cruiser 16
2005 Pan-Pacific #3, Twice All-China Championship Champion, All-China Games Gold Medallist
2006 Asian Champion, All-China Champion
Personal Honour :
Hong Kong Junior Sports Stars Awards 2005
Hong Kong Sports Institute Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards(2nd Quarter) 2006
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