From athletic to academic: the dual life of Chow Long-ho, Hong Kong's wheelchair fencing representative
To excel as a student athlete requires much more than just athletic prowess—academic achievement is equally important. Chow Long-ho, a wheelchair fencer from Hong Kong, exemplifies this balance. With remarkable perseverance, he enrolled in Lingnan University's Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Cultural Studies programme as an elite athlete in the 2023/24 academic year.
Now in his second year, Chow was named Junior Sportsman of the Year at the FILA 2022 Outstanding Athlete Awards organised by the Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China. Thanks to Lingnan University’s academic support, he manages to juggle intensive training with his studies while enjoying campus life.
Chow first discovered wheelchair fencing at the age of 12 during school extracurricular activities. He was later recommended for professional training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), where he began competing internationally. Over the years, he has won multiple medals, including a bronze in the U17 men’s épée individual games at the 2019 IWAS World Games in Sharjah, UAE, and silver in both the A and B categories of the U23 men’s épée individual games at the 2022 IWAS World Championships in São Paulo, Brazil.
Photo courtesy: Chow Long-ho
Photo courtesy: Chow Long-ho
Ever since secondary school, Chow has juggled a demanding schedule, balancing both classes and training, and often getting only about five hours of sleep at night. Now a university student, he focuses his training on days without classes. "At the beginning of the semester, it’s relatively relaxed, but as the competition season approaches, things get more intense. Training ramps up, and I have to catch up on my studies quickly after returning from overseas competitions. It can be tough at times," he said.
Fortunately, Lingnan University offers flexibility to help Chow manage his academic and athletic commitments. Whenever he travels for competitions, the Office of Student Affairs works with his programme and professors to provide recorded lectures and accommodate his coursework. "I watch the recorded lectures when I return from competitions. It’s not as engaging as attending in person, but it helps me stay on track with my studies," he explained.
One of Chow’s most unforgettable experiences was participating in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last October. "It was my first time competing in such a large-scale event, and it was a truly exhilarating experience. After years of hard work, competing on that stage felt like a major milestone." Chow took part in both the category A individual and team events for épée and foil respectively. Although he didn’t win a medal, he was satisfied with his debut performance, especially in the team competition, where he felt he gave his all.
When you pursue something, don’t just focus on short-term gains. I started fencing simply because I enjoyed it, never imagining that it would lead to these achievements or help me get into university. Whatever you do, either commit fully or let go early—success may take a long time to come, but perseverance is key.
Photo courtesy: Chow Long-ho
Looking ahead, Chow hopes to continue excelling in sport, and eventually take part in Lingnan University’s exchange programmes. "I would love to explore new opportunities like an exchange in Japan, but for now training keeps me very busy. Hopefully, I’ll have the chance to do it in the future," he said.
In the meantime, Chow is making the most of university dorm life, where he enjoys winding down after training by eating hotpot or playing board games with fellow students. In this new academic and social environment, he is eager to use his four years at Lingnan to discover interests outside sport and prepare for life beyond his athletic career.
To support student-athletes with great potential, Lingnan University launched the "Direct Entry Stream for Top Athletes" (DESTA), funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC). Chow was admitted through this programme, where alongside academic support the university provides regular physiotherapy services to student-athletes under DESTA, helping them recover from the intense demands of training and maintain their best performance.
