To make progress, it’s not just about giving 100% effort; it’s about putting in 120% dedication. Hong Kong rower Jenny Leung recently won a bronze medal alongside her teammate Huang Sheung Yee in the women’s double sculls event at the 2024 Asian Rowing Championships. In the early stages of the race, several teams were closely matched, but in the final moments, Jenny and Sheung Yee pushed themselves to the limit, increasing their rowing frequency to pull ahead of Kazakhstan and finish third. Congratulations to Jenny and Sheung Yee!
In an interview, Jenny shared, “I believe the key to success lies mainly in our training. Before the competition, our coach focuses not only on improving our aerobic capacity but also on enhancing our anaerobic strength. Additionally, the chemistry with my teammate is crucial; we have a deep mutual understanding of each other’s thoughts.”
Jenny competes in both the double sculls and quad sculls events. Although she has experience in both, the schedule was altered by the organizers, resulting in both events being held on the same day, just an hour apart. She noted, “This posed a significant challenge to our physical endurance, so we simulated the finals during the preliminary rounds and adjusted our strategies accordingly. Since all teams were closely matched in the preliminaries, any mistake could cost us a medal.”
Daily Life as a Professional Rower in Hong Kong
The rowing events at the 2024 Paris Olympics have garnered considerable attention from the people of Hong Kong. Therefore, we invited Jenny to share how she got into rowing and her journey as a professional athlete in Hong Kong.
Jenny has loved various sports since high school, including volleyball, long-distance running, and rowing machines. She was encouraged by a high school teacher to join a rowing course in August 2012. She quickly fell in love with the speed of rowing on water and later began training with teammates in the double sculls, enjoying the camaraderie and the shared effort. This experience is different from rowing alone, as having teammates provides support and motivation.
As a Hong Kong rower, Jenny trains 2-3 times a week from Monday to Saturday. They often train in different cities, so adapting quickly to varying weather and environments is crucial. Jenny recalled, “I remember one time when we moved from training in Yunnan, where temperatures ranged from 10-17°C, to Taizhou, where it was 36-40°C. On the first day, we had to row 16 kilometers in such drastically different temperatures. The heat made it difficult for my teammates and me to exert ourselves, and we nearly completed the training solely through willpower.”
Racing Is More Than Just Speed
When watching rowing competitions, audiences often focus solely on speed and rhythm, without fully understanding the mental journey of the rowers. Jenny shares that effective communication is crucial in team boats; it allows them to convey simple instructions and adjust strategies efficiently during the race. She adds, “During the race, it’s important to observe the opponents while also maintaining focus on our own rhythm. Rowing is an outdoor sport, so we are often affected by wind and water currents, which are key factors in our strategic considerations.”
Typically, rowing races cover a distance of 2000 meters, requiring both endurance and explosive power, with a good balance of both being essential. This distance is long, demanding a sustained rhythm while also keeping an eye on competitors, allowing for strategic attacks to gain an advantage.
She explains, “For example, when observing my opponents, I’ll assume that I’m maintaining the same distance as them in the early stages of the race, then decide to make a move to pull ahead, or I might choose to save my energy and make my move in the middle of the race.” However, she emphasizes that training mental toughness is even more important, as it helps maintain focus during competitions.
The Athlete’s Greatest Fear: Stagnation
As a professional athlete in Hong Kong, Jenny faces intense training every week, and the most daunting challenge is often the stagnation that comes with hitting a plateau. She reflects, “Initially, when I became a professional athlete, I thought it was enough to simply complete the coach’s training plan. But I slowly realized that even though my training program was the same as my teammates’, my progress was minimal, making it feel like I was stuck in place. So, I began to push myself to give 120% effort in every training session. At first, it was exhausting, but over time, I adapted, and during testing, I noticed significant improvements.”
The Most Impactful Competition Jenny Ever Experienced
In the 2017 Asian Cup, Jenny competed in the lightweight women’s double sculls event. This was her third time representing Hong Kong and her first time participating in a double sculls competition as the stroke seat, which means she set the rhythm for the entire boat. Jenny recalls, “I was incredibly nervous during that race; I was so tense that I couldn’t perform normally, and my execution suffered. After that experience, I tried different methods to overcome my anxiety, determined to become a rower who could lead my teammates rather than rely on them.”
While athletes may appear calm and composed on stage, they often work hard to manage their mental health behind the scenes. Jenny has also experimented with various techniques to cope with nerves, such as taking five deep breaths before competitions. However, she notes, “The most effective way I’ve found to overcome anxiety is through experience. For instance, during our weekly timed high-intensity training, I would often get overly nervous, which affected my performance. Later, my coach taught me to treat regular training like a competition, which helped me internalize that mindset. Coupled with building confidence in myself, it made a significant difference.”
