Tang Wai-lok () is a
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
Paralympic swimmer
Para swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming for athletes with disabilities. Para swimmers compete at the Summer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions throughout the world. The sport is governed by the International Para ...
, he classifies as a
class S14 Paraswimmer.
Personal life
At the age of 6, Tang was diagnosed with mild intellectual disability and had to transfer to a special-needs school, at the age of 11 he began swimming and his efforts paid off in a call up to the youth team, and eventually the Hong Kong Paralympic Swimming Team for the 2012 Paralympics. One of Tang's biggest influences is his mother, who he says had a "vital role" in his success.
Awards and Accolades
Accolades he has include being recipient of the 2014 Hong Kong Outstanding Youth Athlete, a 2015
Award for Best Male Athlete, as well as a 2016
Hong Kong Sports Star Award.
Performance Across Competitions
2012 Paralympic Games
Tang participated in the
2012 Paralympic Games
The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Gam ...
, finishing 7th in the Men's 100m Backstroke, 6th in the Men's 200m Freestyle and failing to make it out of his heat in the Men's 100m Breaststroke.
2016 Paralympic Games
Tang won Hong Kong's first Paralympic Swimming Gold in the
2016 Paralympic Games
)
, nations = 159
, athletes = 4,342
, opening = 7 September
, closing = 18 September
, opened_by = President Michel Temer
, cauldron = Clodoaldo Silva
, events = 528 in 22 sports
, stadium = Maracanã
, sum ...
, coming 1st in the men's 200 meter freestyle whilst setting a new Paralympic record at that time of 1:56.32, Tang also finished 4th in the Men's 100m backstroke.
2020 Paralympic Games
In the
2020 Paralympic Games
The , branded as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, was an international multi-sport parasports event held from 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. They were the 16th Summer Paralympic Games as organized by the International Paralymp ...
, Tang failed to defend his Olympic title for the Men's 200 meter freestyle, coming in 10th in his heat and failing to qualify to the knockout stages. Tang also finished 6th in the Men's 100 meter butterfly.
Other International Events
In the 2015
INAS Global Games The INAS Global Games is a quadrennial global, international multi-sport event organised by the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS). First organised in 2004, it is intended for elite competition in disabil ...
, Tang won Gold in the Men's 200m freestyle, Men's 200m and 400m Medley Relay and Men's 800m freestyle relay. Silver in the Men's 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 400m Men's freestyle Relay and Bronze in the Men's 50m backstroke.
Tang achieved Gold in the
2018 Asian Para Games
The 2018 Asian Para Games ( id, Pesta Olahraga Difabel Asia 2018, ''Asian Para Games 2018''), officially known as the 3rd Asian Para Games and also known as Indonesia 2018, was a pan-Asian multi-sport event that held from 6 to 13 October 2018 ...
for the Men's 200 meter freestyle, as well as Silver for the Men's 200 meter individual medley.
In the 2019 INAS Global Games, Tang achieved Gold in the Men's 4x50m medley relay, Silver in the Men's 4x50m, , Freestyle relay, Silver in the Men's Medley Relay and Bronze in the Men's 100m freestyle and Men's 200m individual Medley.
References
Paralympic swimmers for Hong Kong
Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
Paralympic gold medalists for Hong Kong
Living people
Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
1997 births
Hong Kong male freestyle swimmers
S14-classified para swimmers
Medalists at the 2014 Asian Para Games
Medalists at the 2018 Asian Para Games
Medalists at the 2022 Asian Para Games
21st-century Hong Kong people
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