Training system

Uhi is one of many competitors close to making it to the top who are placed at the head of Hong Kong's athlete training system.

Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, president of the Hong Kong China Swimming Association, likens the city's sports system to a pyramid, with the base occupied by numerous sports enthusiasts, and the center by those who have the potential and aspiration to take up sports professionally. First-class athletes are at the top of the pyramid.

Wong said Hong Kong has strong center and bottom layers of the pyramid to support the top tier through recruiting and training talent for sports such as swimming.

But he added that the city's sports development needs an integrated pyramid, with those at the top winning medals in international competitions, and those in the center and at the bottom laying a solid foundation for such success.

"The national sporting associations cover the middle and bottom layers of this pyramid, while the HKSI is in charge of the top," Wong said.

The future looks bright, at least for swimming, but gaps may appear in the pyramid at some point if there is not enough support, Wong said.

At Tokyo 2020, the Hong Kong delegation won six medals－the city's best performance.