JESSICA Young Trailblazer Awardee: Tiffany Yue

Pursuing excellence in sports is a challenging path for any athlete. The saying "Rome was not built in a day" rings true, though clichéd. This is especially the case in Hong Kong, where being a full-time athlete requires immense time, effort, sweat, and often self-funding to have a chance at qualifying for major competitions. With an infectious enthusiasm for her sport and dogged determination to never quit, Tiffany has shattered national records repeatedly. Her breakthroughs earned her Hong Kong's Young Trailblazers award this year. In sharing her journey's difficulties and triumphs, Tiffany inspires athletes to keep chasing their dreams despite immense challenges.

Centimeters Away: Bridging the Gap

This year, Hong Kong long jumper Tiffany Yue captured the bronze medal at the Asian Games - the first Hong Kong athletics medal in a jumping event in Games history. More vitally, her podium finish helped Hong Kong athletics retain its elite A-grade status, securing crucial government support going forward.

The long jump is an uncommon focus for female athletes, and Tiffany was no exception. She began her career concentrating on sprints. It was not until after high school that she decided to commit, setting a personal goal of 6 meters fully.

"When I switched focus in 2016, the youth record was 6 meters, and my personal best in meets was 5.93 meters. I thought closing that 7-centimeter gap would be easy. It took me two years to finally surpass 6 meters," Tiffany recalls.

She finally achieved her goal with persistent effort and determination, though jokingly notes she was no longer a youth athlete by then. Regardless, it became the most unforgettable breakthrough of her career. The struggle of those two years is a memory she will never forget.

Tiffany's steady progress as a long jumper stems from perseverance, determination, and perhaps some self-dissatisfaction. "Often, others suggested giving up, but I believed in my potential to improve," she explains. "That is why I have always pursued my goals, wanting to keep trying. Moreover, athletics is quantitative. An extra 1cm is tangible progress, not just a feeling. Those minor gains, like 0.01 meters, motivate me to keep jumping."

It is this mindset, focused on small but measurable improvements through tireless effort, that has pushed Tiffany to achieve new heights as an athlete. She does not listen when others urge her to quit, trusting her abilities and drive to improve. The quantifiable gains - an extra centimeter here and there - speak for themselves, compelling Tiffany to keep striving in her event.

Breaking Through Perceived Limitations

Originally, track and field drew relatively little attention from Hong Kong audiences. The perceived genetic disadvantages of Asian athletes made those like Tiffany, who focused on jumping events, receive even less notice and support.

However, Tiffany holds a different view. "Before becoming popular, fencing and swimming likely faced obstacles too. But breakthroughs can bring events into the public eye. The track has the advantage that people know the events, and schools hold meets, so there is a basic understanding," she explains.

For Tiffany, transcending innate factors to reach international competitions and win awards is an achievement in itself. Her Asian Games medal is the subsequent story. Given the hurdles, simply entering the top tier of her sport makes her proud.

By pushing past presumed limitations, Tiffany hopes to inspire greater appreciation and support for track and field. If she can excel, why not others? Her underdog mentality drives her to defy expectations. Though the path is difficult, she is determined to blaze a trail.

Text: Chinese by Crystal Leung; Translated and Edited into English by Jeremy Chapnick

Photos: Sze Cheun

JESSICA Magazine 2023