Sports Hero

Life Saving • LI Hong-yi, LI Kin-leung

Lifesaving athletes LI Kin-leung (left) and LI Hong-yi (right)

Every time LI Hong-yi and LI Kin-leung talk about lifesaving, other people usually react by asking, “Are you a lifeguard?” In fact, lifesaving does not only refer to the rescue skill, but also a kind of competitive sport. The two athletes are deeply attracted to the exhilarating sport. They have been very involved into it, and managed to play well and have even set records in overseas events. Let’s see what they find to be pleasurable or bitter in this sport.

Started as swimmer, turned out a lifesaver

LI Kin-leung who is currently planning to retire said that the public is not familiar with the lifesaving sport. He hoped that as it gained more popularity, the Hong Kong team would be able to obtain more resources for further advancement. “Hong Kong has no full time lifesaving sport athletes, which has stopped many potential players from playing the sport. The LCSD has done a fairly good job in offering venues, but should consider putting more effort in other areas to prevent the sport from being threatened by a shortage of new-incomers.” On the day of the interview, the qualifiers for age group and international competitions were competing. They both watched the match as they were interviewed. LI Hong-yi talked of the “never give up” spirit that prevailed in sport, LI Kin-leung agreed with him and hoped that future successors to the sport would inherit these skills and this spirit to fight for Hong Kong’s glory.

Overseas competitions, Eye-opening experience

After many years of competing, LI Hong-yi is now a specialist in the Beach Flag and running event, while LI Kin-leung is a specialist in the Oceanman Relay. They both represented Hong Kong in large scale international events, such as the Live Saving World Championships that were held respectively in Egypt and Australia in 2010 and 2012, and Sanyo Bussan International Surf Rescue Challenge 2013 held in Japan. They thought the opportunity to join such overseas events were very precious. LI Hong-yi explained how the game in Egypt blew him away: “The local beaches had rapid waves with strong wind. I was totally dumbfounded when I saw my teammates were devoured by a four meters wave.” They felt a sense of affinity with the Japanese team when it came to having exchanges with other countries’ athletes in overseas events: “In Asia, the Japanese team has invested more resources to lifesaving sport training, which has made them more competitive. That is why we like to interact with them and learn from their training methods. Even now, we have kept in contact with them through social platforms!”

Legacy of skill, perpetuity of spirit

Among the several dozen district lifesaving associations in Hong Kong, the most outstanding one is Taipo Lifesaving Club to which they belong to. LI Hong-yi said that the club owes thanks to the LCSD for its assistance via the Community Sports Club Project: “The LCSD helps our club book swimming lanes, offers us storage facilities, and constantly funds the lifesaving sport classes organized by the club. These efforts help to promote lifesaving sport.” He thought lifesaving sport is getting more and more popular in Hong Kong, and that the organization of competitions and classes by the education sector and district sport clubs have had a bolstering effect. However the natural environment was a big problem for the sport’s development in Hong Kong: “Beaches in Hong Kong are rather calm and still, which makes it harder to hold beach event training. In addition, our objective conditions are indeed worse than other countries.”

LI Kin-leung who is currently planning to retire said that the public is not familiar with the lifesaving sport. He hoped that as it gained more popularity, the Hong Kong team would be able to obtain more resources for further advancement. “Hong Kong has no full time lifesaving sport athletes, which has stopped many potential players from playing the sport. The LCSD has done a fairly good job in offering venues, but should consider putting more effort in other areas to prevent the sport from being threatened by a shortage of new-incomers.” On the day of the interview, the qualifiers for age group and international competitions were competing. They both watched the match as they were interviewed. LI Hong-yi talked of the “never give up” spirit that prevailed in sport, LI Kin-leung agreed with him and hoped that future successors to the sport would inherit these skills and this spirit to fight for Hong Kong’s glory.

Life-Saving Performance