Special Olympics Hong Kong athlete Hui Lok-yee recognized the importance of the people we surround ourselves with. The difference between the struggles she faced at a young age and the success she later found was not about effort. It was about environment.
“If you do not do well in school, you can’t do the things you want.”
These were the words a teacher told Hui Lok-yee when she was very young. This sentence exemplified the pressure that was put on academics in the mainstream school she attended at an early age. Academics that were rigorous and inflexible with Lok-yee’s learning disabilities. She was called “lazy” and even “stupid” by classmates, who saw her poor performance as lack of effort.
This hurt Lok-yee because she was working hard. She wanted to do well, but the school she attended was not a fit for her. Her confidence dwindled and she found herself without many friends. She seldom spoke to others, and her family realized the environment she was in did not meet her needs.
A turning point came when Lok-yee switched to study in a new school that supported individuals with intellectual disabilities. Here, the emphasis was on learning, not just grades. Growth was the focus for her, and she began to thrive in her education, social life, and sport. This was recognized by her teachers and peers and led to an even greater opportunity.
A teacher suggested Lok-yee try Special Olympics and immediately it was a match. She participated in basketball and snowshoeing, where she trained hard and proved herself as a competitor. This led her to win medals at international competitions for both sports.
In this new environment, Lok-yee connected with her teammates and found herself laughing and talking frequently. She made friends and enjoyed teaching others how to train. This was how she became involved in Athlete Leadership Training, where she serves as a representative and emcee at Special Olympics activities. She speaks in front of crowds and explains how Special Olympics changed her life. Very often, listeners will approach her and express how she evolved their perception of persons with intellectual disabilities. Her parents can hardly recognize the confident and social athlete Lok-yee has become from the quiet girl she was years before at her previous school.
After all the change, Lok-yee is grateful for her experiences and journey. She says it gave her perspective and appreciation for the opportunities she’s received. Although she struggled when she didn’t have the support she needed, she stayed positive. And when she joined Special Olympics, an environment where she could grow, that’s exactly what she did.
Her journey continues as she competes on the world stage in Turin, Italy. She will participate in Snowshoeing in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games. She has been training hard and is ready to shine in the snow!
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will be held in Italy from 8 – 15 March, with over 1,500 athletes from more than 100 countries competing across eight sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, DanceSport, figure skating, floorball, short track speed skating, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
