Paris Olympics: Hong Kong swimmer Camille Cheng tells of mental toll at top, says success brings own struggles
- Cheng says becoming an Olympian created its own pressure of always having to perform at that level
- The 30-year-old could compete at her third Games in Paris this summer, but warned of dangers young athletes face
Hong Kong swimmer Camille Cheng Lily-mei has opened up about the physical and mental toll competing at the Olympics had on her and how she believes such exertion leads many young stars to burnout.
The 30-year-old made her debut at the world’s biggest multi-sport event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and said being an Olympian changed the expectations she had of herself.
A seven-time Asian Games medal winner, Cheng could represent her city in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay at the Paris Olympics this summer.
“Once I came back from the [2016] Olympics, all of a sudden I had this like stamp, ‘you’re an Olympian’, but I felt like I didn’t really change. It’s just that … now I have this title,” Cheng said.
“I felt too like now that I’m an Olympian, I had to perform at this Olympian status all the time. That was the biggest thing that was hard for me because it’s not sustainable to be performing at your highest every single day.”
Cheng was speaking at a panel discussion on Thursday about the unrealistic expectations professionals in the sports and fitness industries face in terms of body images and results on the field.
