Michelle Yeung
Bachelor of Health Education (Honours)

Michelle Yeung began practising martial arts at the age of eight. By nine, she had joined the Hong Kong, China national team, and at just 13 she was named one of Hong Kong’s Outstanding Young Athletes. Three years ago, she was admitted to The Education University of Hong Kong as an elite athlete, enrolling in the Bachelor of Health Education (Honours) programme. While embracing university life, she has continued to excel on the international stage.

Michelle is a true martial arts enthusiast. Influenced from a young age by her father, a martial arts stunt director, she developed a deep interest early on. Accompanying her father to film sets, she became familiar with fundamental techniques such as punching, handstands and aerial flips, and also had some exposure to rhythmic gymnastics. Her mother once suggested that she try a gentler sport, but Michelle was always drawn to martial arts, particularly the power and dynamism of Changquan, broadsword and staff techniques. Martial arts has given her a strong sense of fulfilment. Driven by unwavering passion, she has represented Hong Kong, China on numerous occasions and won multiple medals in international competitions. In September last year, she delivered an outstanding performance on the world stage, capturing two silver medals and one bronze at the 17th World Wushu Championships.

Behind the spotlight lies discipline and perseverance. Before entering university, her daily routine consisted of attending classes during the day, heading straight to the Hong Kong Sports Institute for training after school, and returning home after nine in the evening to revise and complete homework. Often, it was two or three o’clock in the morning before she could finally go to bed. Looking back, she recalls that period as “exhausting and extremely demanding”. With little time to socialise, she has few memories of secondary school life. After starting her studies at EdUHK, she was finally able to reclaim a fuller campus experience. She has met classmates from different disciplines, and her life is no longer defined solely by intensive training and heavy academic demands. She says she truly enjoys her current routine: taking three courses each semester, receiving strong institutional support during training camps, including supplementary classes and arrangements for lecturers to conduct lessons at the Sports Institute. “I’m really happy to be able to pursue both sport and my studies at the same time,” she says.

Having completed her competitions at the National Games, Michelle is now fully focused on preparing for the Asian Games and the Wushu Taolu World Cup this year, hoping to achieve further success. In the long run, she aspires to pursue a career as a full-time athlete and to apply the educational knowledge gained at university to promote the appeal and spirit of martial arts.