Hong Kong short-track speed skater Joey Lam Ching‑yan still remembers feeling “refreshed and comfortable” the first time she stepped onto an ice rink and out of the city’s oppressive heat.
More than a decade later, the eight‑year‑old girl who took up the sport to escape the tropical temperatures is now preparing to compete on the biggest stage of all.
Still, Lam’s Milano Cortina Winter Olympics debut almost never happened.
The 19-year-old initially met the qualifying criteria, only to miss out when the International Skating Union changed the rules surrounding the number of places available. She was handed a last-minute reprieve when Great Britain’s unused spot was reallocated.
Darren Kwok (left) and Joey Lam will compete across three short-track events at the Games. Photo: Karma Lo
“I want to give it everything I have got, not waste all these years of hard training, and hopefully make it into the top 20 and advance to the next round,” Lam said.