STORY: Former Asian breaststroke king's turn of life in Hong Kong
DATELINE: July 11, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:40
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the training of China's Hong Kong swimming team
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
3. various of Chen Jianhong's photos
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
5. various of Chen Jianhong coaching
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
7. various of the training of China's Hong Kong swimming team
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team

STORYLINE:

Chen Jianhong, the former men's 100m breaststroke Asian record holder, now is the general coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team.

The 54-year-old has made a stunning turn of life in Hong Kong while continuing his beloved cause, which started in east China's Anhui province, his birthplace.

At the international level, Chen exploded onto the scene as the breaststroker won two gold medals at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games and broke the Asian record, which earned him the nickname "king of breaststroke."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
"The 11th Asian Games were held in Beijing, the first time China hosted a major international games. After winning gold medals in my own country, I felt really excited."

Despite his splendid performance at the Asian Games, Chen failed to impress at two consecutive Olympic Games, leaving him with deep regrets.

With his prestige, it was fairly easy for Chen to land a job in the national or provincial team after his retirement, but instead, he opted for a new challenge.
 
After a two-year coaching spell in Shanghai, Chen decided to receive an invitation from Hong Kong in 2000, which was a turning point in his life.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
"I didn't play well in the two Olympic Games and didn't win medals. Maybe this is the only regret in my life. My primary goal as a coach is to train an Olympic medalist. I also want to change the environment to find a breakthrough, so I came to Hong Kong."

Chen realized his dream in 2021 when Siobhan Haughey made the breakthrough as she won silver in the 200m freestyle and 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
"Siobhan Haughey is not only a very talented swimmer. She is also a high achiever. She studies well. She is the most self-disciplined athlete I have ever met. And what we do is to give her all kinds of support, so that she can enjoy the sport, to feel happy, and then can do better."

With less than 400 days to go before the 2024 Olympic Games, Chen has set his sights on Paris.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CHEN JIANHONG, General coach of China's Hong Kong swimming team
"If we can win medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it would be very perfect for us. If we win gold medals, it will certainly be a happier thing."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)