34-year-old athlete who won 12 medals in glittering career before retiring bows out in style in city event
SHIRLEY.ZHAO@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 17 January, 2016, 4:55pm
UPDATED : Sunday, 17 January, 2016, 4:55pm
Paralympian So Wa-wai speaks after finishing the 10-kilometre race on Sunday. Photo: Nora Tam
Paralympic champion So Wa-wai finished his 10-kilometre marathon in one hour and nine minutes on Sunday.
So, 34, who has cerebral palsy, announced his retirement as an athlete earlier this month after a 21-year career that saw him garner 12 Paralympic medals, including six gold, three silver and three bronze.
He said he was satisfied with his performance yesterday, although it was a difficult run with the rain and the need to run uphill towards the end of the race.
“It was very difficult but I really enjoyed the race,” said So, who participated in the marathon to raise money for this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. “If you have a good mood, then nothing will be a problem.”
So said that although he had retired, he kept training and started to prepare for the marathon two months ago.
Nicknamed “magic kid”, So, who has attended five Paralympics, won his first gold medal at the age of 15 when his team came first in the 4x100m relay at the 1996 games in Atlanta, United States.
In the 2000 games in Sydney, So grabbed three gold medals, in 100m, 200m and 400m races, and two bronze, in 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.
Another memorable feat was at the 2008 Beijing games, where he won a gold in the 200m race, setting a record that still stands.
So’s mother confirmed his retirement earlier this month, saying the amount of exercise he put himself through had taken its toll on his waist and sometimes he felt piercing pain when he got up from bed.
So said he would continue to work for the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1901972/so-impressive-hong-kongs-paralympic-champion-so-wai-wai-finishes-10km
