Nineteen-year-old swimmer Tang Wai-lok won the men's 200-metre freestyle gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio.
It was Hong Kong's first Paralympic gold in the swimming pool.
"I love swimming. I like the speed. I am so happy to have won a gold medal at the Paralympics. I never thought I could break my personal best and the Games record."
Hidden talent
At the age of six Tang was diagnosed with mild intellectual disability and it took him years to discover his hidden talent and live up to his potential.
His mother Ng Chun-hung said she worked hard to get him into a mainstream school, however, he did not fit in.
"I spent hours tutoring him but he could not understand. There were complaints from teachers and other parents about his behaviour. The school banned him from joining activities, including sports days."
Facing all this pressure, his mother allowed him to study in a special-needs school.
"It was a very tough decision because I wanted him to be normal, but I also wanted him to have a happy childhood. I realised I should not consider what I want, but what he wants."
New direction
The decision changed his life. He got the chance to join a swimming team when he was 11.
Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability swimming coach Kam Chi-ho said: "I was choosing athletes for the team at the time. We were looking for kids aged eight to 10. Wai-lok was a bit older, but he came to me and told me that he really likes swimming and wanted a chance. I was really impressed. He was really passionate, so I chose him."
Tang was selected for the Hong Kong swimming team for the London Paralympics in 2012, but he did not make it onto the podium.
Tang's high expectations of himself sometimes caused him too much stress, requiring coaches like Chow Sun-tin to counsel him before big events. He said: "We set small goals for him in training, so he could improve his results progressively to prepare him for the Paralympic Games."
His mother decided to accompany him to Rio to show her support.
"This was my first time to watch him race overseas. I was shaking when I saw the result, it was so exciting. When he walked to the media, he looked at me with a beautiful smile. I have never seen that face before."
Finer than gold
She said seeing her son grow as a person was more valuable than winning the gold medal.
"Every time he came back from an event, I found he had changed a little - getting more mature, more polite, and having a better attitude. Especially this time when he came back from the Paralympics, as he had to face a lot of interviews and other events. But he did well. I am so happy to see him grow. He is confident. I think he can do what he wants to do now."
Tang acknowledges the vital role his mother's patience and love have played in his sporting and personal success.
"I want to thank my mother for supporting me. Even though you may think I am still a kid, I can take care of myself now. I love you, Mum."
