Chan Pui Kei: Hong Kong’s Flying Woman

The Pride of Good Hope School and Hong Kong Sprinting

Full Name: Chan Pui Kei (陳佩琦)
English Name: Chloe
Date of Birth: March 24, 2000
Birthplace: Hong Kong
Events: 100 metres, 200 metres, 60 metres (indoor), 4×100 metres relay
Current World Ranking: #670 (Women’s 100m)

For more than a decade, Chan Pui Kei has been one of the most recognizable names in Hong Kong athletics. Known affectionately as the “Flying Woman of Good Hope School,” she has transformed from a promising inter-school champion into a seasoned international competitor who holds Hong Kong national records and has represented her city at the highest levels of Asian athletics. Her career is a testament to dedication, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to sprinting excellence in a city where track and field athletes often train in the shadow of more mainstream sports.

Early Life and Discovery of Athletics

Born on March 24, 2000, Chan Pui Kei grew up in Hong Kong during a period of rapid development in the city’s sporting infrastructure. While details of her earliest childhood remain private, her athletic talents became evident during her time at Good Hope School (德望學校), the prestigious direct-subsidy girls’ school located in Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon. Founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Good Hope School has long been known for both academic excellence and robust extracurricular programs—and it was here that Chan’s exceptional speed first caught the attention of coaches.

By her teenage years, Chan had already established herself as the standout sprinter in the Hong Kong inter-school athletics circuit. She earned the nickname “Flying Woman” (女飛人) among her peers and in local sports media, a moniker that spoke to the effortless way she seemed to glide across the track. Her time at Good Hope School coincided with the school’s strong athletics program, and she became something of an institution within the D1 (Division 1) inter-school competitions.

School Athletics Career: Dominance in the D1 Circuit

Chan’s inter-school career reached its apex in the 2015-2016 season, when she swept gold medals in all short-distance events at the Division 1 Inter-school Athletics Competition. Her performances that year were nothing short of extraordinary—she set meet records that stood for years and announced herself as a sprinter of genuine international potential. Her 100-metre record at the inter-school level (11.89 seconds) remained the benchmark for D1 competition long after her graduation.

It was during this period that Chan began to set her sights beyond school-level competition. As she later reflected in interviews, the inter-school championships served as both a proving ground and an annual review of her development. “After my second inter-school competition, I realized how much I loved the sport and I knew I wanted to do it for a really long time,” she once told the South China Morning Post. “Then I started setting goals for myself, and began to look beyond the school-level championships.”

Her success at Good Hope School earned her selection to the Hong Kong national team while still a teenager—a rare honor that typically goes only to the most promising young athletes in the city. She graduated from Good Hope School having established herself not only as one of the greatest sprinters in the school’s history but as one of the most decorated schoolgirl athletes Hong Kong had produced in a generation.

International Debut and Youth Championships (2015-2017)

Chan’s international career began in 2015 at the Asian Championships in Wuhan, China, where, at just 15 years old, she gained her first experience of senior continental competition. Though she was eliminated in the opening rounds of both the 100 and 200 metres, the exposure proved invaluable. She was competing against established professionals more than twice her age, absorbing lessons that would serve her well in the years ahead.

The 2016 Asian Junior Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, marked her first international breakthrough. Running in the U20 age group despite being among the younger competitors, Chan claimed a silver medal in the 100 metres with a time of 11.85 seconds, finishing behind only China’s Liu Qun. She also helped the Hong Kong women’s 4×100m relay team to a bronze medal with a time of 45.84 seconds. It was Hong Kong’s first significant medal haul at a junior Asian championships in years, and Chan was at the center of it.

The 2017 season proved to be even more spectacular. At the Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok, Thailand—a competition for athletes aged 15-17—Chan emerged as one of the meet’s standout performers. She claimed silver medals in both the 100 metres and 200 metres, finishing second only to China’s dominant Feng Lulu in both events. Her 200m time of 24.57 seconds established a personal best that would stand as her official PB for years to come. She also anchored Hong Kong’s sprint medley relay team to a bronze medal.

The Bangkok championships represented a watershed moment. Chan became the only athlete outside of China to win three medals at the meet, highlighting her status as Hong Kong’s brightest sprinting prospect in a generation. Her performances earned her selection to compete at the 2017 World U18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya—Hong Kong’s entry into the global youth athletics scene. Though she was eliminated in the first round of both the 100 and 200 metres against the world’s best teenage sprinters, the experience of competing on the global stage added another chapter to her rapidly developing career.

Later that year, Chan competed at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where she ran 7.62 seconds in the 60 metres heats—her first serious indoor competition at the international level.

Junior Championships and First Asian Games (2018)

The 2018 season marked Chan’s transition from youth to junior competition as she aged into the U20 category. At the 18th Asian Junior Championships in Gifu, Japan, she continued her medal-winning ways, though the competition was fierce. In the women’s 100 metres, she finished fourth in a time of 12.01 seconds—narrowly missing the podium as China’s Feng Lulu (11.68) and Sri Lanka’s Amasha De Silva (11.71) proved too strong. She placed fifth in the 200 metres but once again found success in the relay, helping Hong Kong to a bronze medal with a time of 47.00 seconds.

The highlight of 2018 came in late August, when Chan made her debut at the Asian Games—the continent’s premier multi-sport event. Competing in Jakarta, Indonesia, she represented Hong Kong in both the 100 and 200 metres as well as the 4×100m relay. Though she was eliminated in the early rounds of the individual events, she helped the Hong Kong relay team to an eighth-place finish with a time of 45.73 seconds. At just 18 years old, she was now a full-fledged Asian Games athlete—a status that relatively few Hong Kong track athletes ever achieve.

Balancing Academics and Athletics (2018-2019)

The period following the Jakarta Asian Games was marked by a familiar challenge for young Hong Kong athletes: balancing competitive sports with academic demands. Chan was preparing for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examinations, the grueling university entrance tests that determine the academic futures of Hong Kong students.

In her final inter-school competition for Good Hope School in early 2019, Chan faced the consequences of reduced training. For the first time in years, she lost the 100 and 200-metre titles to rival Leung Wing-hei. The defeat was disappointing but not unexpected—she had anticipated it the night before, knowing that her study schedule had forced her to cut back on training. “After my second inter-school competition, I realized how much I loved the sport,” she reflected. Her goal post-examinations was clear: return to peak form and, ultimately, break Hong Kong records.

Following the DSE examinations, Chan enrolled at Hong Kong Polytechnic University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree, continuing a common path for Hong Kong student-athletes who balance tertiary education with national team duties.

Senior Career Development (2019-2022)

Chan’s early senior career was marked by steady progress at the Asian level, even as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international competition schedules from 2020 to 2022. She continued to represent Hong Kong at various regional championships, maintaining her status as one of the city’s top female sprinters.

During this period, she also expanded her role in Hong Kong’s athletics community beyond competition. In 2020, she served as a commentator for track and field events during the Tokyo Olympic Games broadcast on Hong Kong Cable TV—a testament to her growing profile and her ability to articulate the nuances of sprinting to a broader audience.

Throughout this period, Chan also began working as a coaching assistant, building relationships within the Hong Kong athletics community and establishing her reputation for good interpersonal skills. Coaches praised her for her mentorship of younger athletes and her positive influence on the training environment.

Record-Breaking Performances (2023-2024)

The post-pandemic era saw Chan reach new heights in her career. In June 2023, she was part of the Hong Kong women’s 4×100m relay team that shattered the city’s 12-year-old national record at the China Asian Games Selection Trial. Running alongside Leung Kwan-yi, Li Tsz-to, and Kong Chun-ki, the team clocked 45.17 seconds in the heats—a statement of intent ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Chan was again part of Hong Kong’s athletics delegation, competing in a Games that marked the continued growth of the city’s track and field program. She also competed at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, where she reached the 100m semifinals with a time of 11.80 seconds—her best performance at a World University Games.

The 2024 season brought Chan’s first Hong Kong national record in an individual event. At the Asian Indoor Championships in Tehran, Iran, in February 2024, she ran 7.44 seconds in the women’s 60 metres—a new Hong Kong record that demonstrated her excellent form in the shorter indoor sprint. She finished seventh in the final, placing her in the top eight at an Asian championship for the first time in her career. The performance underlined her continued development as a sprinter approaching her mid-twenties—traditionally the peak years for female sprinters.

Current Season and Record-Breaking Relay (2025)

The 2025 season has seen Chan continue to compete at the highest level and add to her national record collection. In May 2025, she clocked 11.70 seconds in the 100 metres—her best time in the event—at a competition ahead of the Asian Athletics Championships.

The highlight of her year came at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on May 31, 2025, where Chan was part of the Hong Kong women’s 4×100m relay team that set a new national record of 44.88 seconds. The team—which included Chan alongside teammates Chloe Pak Hoi-man, Yu Pui-yi, Kong Chun-ki, and Serena Tang—finished seventh in the final, competing against powerhouse teams from across Asia. The time broke Hong Kong’s previous record and represented years of development work by the women’s relay squad.

The record-breaking relay team is now preparing for the 15th National Games of China, where they will face even stiffer competition from provincial teams stacked with China’s fastest sprinters. As one of the most experienced members of the relay squad, Chan’s role as both a competitor and a leader will be crucial to Hong Kong’s medal hopes.

Personal Bests and Records

NR = Hong Kong National Record

Career Highlights

• Hong Kong National Record Holder: Women’s 60 metres (indoor) – 7.44 seconds
• Hong Kong National Record Holder: Women’s 4×100m relay – 44.88 seconds
• Asian Youth Championships (2017): Silver medals in 100m and 200m; Bronze in relay
• Asian Junior Championships: Bronze medals in 4×100m relay (2016, 2018)
• Asian Games Participant: 2018 (Jakarta), 2023 (Hangzhou)
• Asian Indoor Championships (2024): Top 8 finish in 60m (national record)
• Hong Kong Inter-School Record Holder: Women’s 100m (11.89 seconds)
• Hong Kong Sports Institute Elite Scholarship Recipient

Beyond the Track

Away from competition, Chan is known among friends and teammates for her love of cats—she keeps four at home and has jokingly described herself as a “cat slave” (a common Chinese internet term for devoted cat owners). This lighter side of her personality has endeared her to fans who follow her journey both on and off the track.

She has also demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the sport that shaped her. Her work as a coaching assistant and her willingness to mentor younger athletes reflect a recognition that Hong Kong sprinting’s future depends on developing the next generation of talent. Coaches have praised her reputation for being approachable and supportive of rising athletes.

As a Hong Kong Sports Institute Elite Scholarship recipient, Chan has access to the training facilities and support systems that help Hong Kong’s top athletes compete at the international level. The scholarship program, which supports athletes in both elite and junior categories, has been instrumental in allowing her to balance her academic pursuits at Hong Kong Polytechnic University with the demands of international competition.

Legacy and Future Prospects

At 25 years old, Chan Pui Kei is entering what could be the prime years of her sprinting career. Female sprinters typically peak in their mid-to-late twenties, and with two Hong Kong national records already to her name, there is reason to believe her best performances may still lie ahead.

Her decade-long journey from schoolgirl sensation to national record holder reflects both her personal dedication and the broader development of athletics infrastructure in Hong Kong. She has seen the city’s relay squad evolve from also-rans at regional championships to national record breakers capable of competing in Asian championship finals.

For Hong Kong athletics fans, Chan represents something increasingly rare: a homegrown talent who has stayed committed to representing her city at the highest level, despite the lure of opportunities elsewhere and the relatively modest profile of track and field in Hong Kong’s sports landscape. Her continued presence in the national team, her record-breaking performances, and her mentorship of younger athletes ensure that her influence on Hong Kong sprinting will extend well beyond her own competitive years.

As she prepares for the National Games and looks ahead to future Asian Games and world championships, Chan Pui Kei remains what she has been since her teenage years at Good Hope School: Hong Kong’s Flying Woman, still chasing faster times and bigger stages.

Last updated: January 2026