Wai Yan Chung (Phoebe Chung): Hong Kong Track and Field Star

Personal Background

Wai Yan Chung, who goes by the English name Phoebe, was born on November 10, 1998, making her 26 years old. She has become one of Hong Kong’s most accomplished track and field athletes, representing Hong Kong, China in international competition.

Athletic Career and Accomplishments

Early Development

Chung attended St Clare’s Girls’ School and was a late bloomer in athletics, taking up the sport only at age 15. Her first event was discus throw at the Division One Inter-School Athletics Competition 2012-13. Initially, she competed in the heptathlon—a grueling seven-event discipline comprising the 100 meters hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin throw, and 800m.

As a 17-year-old student, she won the heptathlon at the Hong Kong Inter-City Athletics Competition 2014 and placed third at both the Hong Kong Athletics Championships 2015 and Hong Kong Athletics Series 2015.

Transition to High Jump Specialist

Chung eventually focused primarily on high jump, where she has achieved her greatest success. In November 2022, she achieved a breakthrough at the local TCAA Championships, clearing 1.80 metres and becoming just the third Hong Kong athlete to reach that height, after Cecilia Yeung Man-wai and Fung Wai-yi.

Major Competition Results

Personal Best: Chung’s personal best in high jump is 1.84 meters, achieved on May 28, 2023, at Banqiao Stadium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

International Success:

• In December 2022, she won gold at the Thailand Open with a jump of 1.78 metres, marking her first international competition since representing Hong Kong in Macau in 2017
• At the 2023 Asian Indoor Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, Chung finished fourth, clearing heights of 1.65, 1.70, 1.75, and 1.80 metres with only one jump each before failing at 1.84 metres
• She won silver at an All China Athletics Series with a jump of 1.80m
• Chung has finished in the top 8 at the Asian Games once and in the top 8 at Asian Indoor Championships twice
• She is a three-time Hong Kong national champion in high jump

Recent Development in Triple Jump

More recently, Chung has expanded her repertoire to include triple jump. In February 2025, she achieved a personal best of 11.58 meters in the triple jump, demonstrating her versatility as a jumper.

Current Status

As of 2025, Chung is ranked #118 in the world in women’s high jump. She is a full-time athlete at Hong Kong’s Sports Institute, where she trains and receives support to pursue her athletic career at the elite level.

Education and Career Aspirations

During her teenage years as a student-athlete at St Clare’s Girls’ School, Chung expressed admiration for British heptathlon star Jessica Ennis-Hill, the Olympic and world champion, describing her as brilliant in every event. While specific details about her university education or post-secondary studies are not publicly documented, her transition to full-time athlete status at the Hong Kong Sports Institute indicates her commitment to pursuing athletics as her primary career focus.

Personal Interests and Character

Chung has shared that she finds inspiration in Avril Lavigne’s song “Keep Holding On,” particularly the lyrics “We’ll make it through, Just stay strong,” which have motivated her during difficult moments in competition. She has also expressed her love of chocolate, calling it a food she would never give up.

Demonstrating resilience and positive attitude, Chung described her fourth-place finish at the Asian Indoor Championships as motivating, noting that the experience of competing against Olympians and an Asian record holder provided valuable learning opportunities. She has shown determination in overcoming challenges, including competing successfully despite recovering from COVID-19 and dealing with strong headwinds.

Like many elite athletes, Chung has faced setbacks including ankle injuries that affected her performance at major championships, but she continues to persevere in her athletic career.

Legacy and Impact

As one of Hong Kong’s premier track and field athletes, Wai Yan Chung represents the next generation of Hong Kong athletics. Her achievements in both heptathlon and jumping events, combined with her status as a three-time national champion, have established her as one of the leading female athletes in Hong Kong’s track and field program. Her ongoing development in multiple jumping disciplines suggests she will continue to be a key representative for Hong Kong in regional and international competition for years to come.

Go Wai Yan!