- Mak Cheuk-wing won Hong Kong’s first-ever gold medal at the U15 world championship at Techno 293, earning her a spot on the city’s representative team at age 13
- Athlete has since switched to sailing and hopes to one day represent the city in the Olympics and become a physical education teacher
Mak Cheuk-wing, second runner-up in the Sportsperson category at this year’s Student of the Year Awards. Photo: HandoutMak Cheuk-wing, a 20-year-old athlete from Hong Kong, made history in 2016 when she won her first U15 world championship in windsurfing at the Techno 293 event in Lake Garda, Italy. It was not only a personal triumph for Mak but also Hong Kong’s first-ever gold medal in the competition.
Recalling the final day of the competition, Mak explained, “The wind was relatively light, and initially, the organisers planned not to hold the competition, intending to use the previous day’s standings. However, just before the deadline, the wind suddenly picked up, allowing the competition to proceed. I secured second place that day but with slightly better scores than the first-place winner from the previous day. After the calculations, I was promoted to the first position.”
The win helped her advance to the Hong Kong representative team at the age of 13, even though the general minimum age requirement was 14.
Mak’s exceptional performance would continue to be noticed. She received the prestigious Hong Kong Sports Stars Award four times and was the second runner-up in the Sportsperson category at the Student of the Year Awards, an event organised by the South China Morning Post and sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Training for windsurfing required Mak to dedicate 5-6 days a week to rigorous sessions, but she never doubted her path as an athlete. She expressed her love for the sport, highlighting its freedom compared to land sports and how it allowed her to choose her own route.
Mak’s camaraderie with her teammates, some of whom she has known since she started training at the age of eight, is a source of great joy for her. The strong bond they share results from growing up together and training alongside each other.
However, Mak experienced disappointment during the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where she represented Hong Kong. Despite consistently maintaining a top-four position throughout the competition, she faltered on the last day due to the pressure and false-started, resulting in disqualification and an 8th-place finish. She blamed herself for the error but used it as motivation to improve her starting technique and avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Currently pursuing a Physical Education degree at The Education University of Hong Kong, Mak aspires to represent Hong Kong in the Olympics. However, due to the physical demands and weight requirements of windsurfing, she transitioned to sailing last year Though achieving her Olympic dreams may take time, she remains determined.
Looking ahead, Mak envisions a future as a physical education teacher and hopes to inspire children to enjoy sports and stay active, just as her coaches did. With her indomitable spirit and passion for athletics, Mak Cheuk-wing continues to make waves in the world of windsurfing and beyond.