Alison Yu Chui-yee (Chinese: 余翠怡; Jyutping: jyu4 ceoi3 ji4; born 29 March 1984) is a wheelchair fencer from Hong Kong. When she was 11 years old, she had bone cancer, leading to the amputation of her left leg. She began as a swimmer but switched to fencing at the age of 17.[1] At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, she won four gold medals in both the individual and team events of épée and foil. She was the first athlete to win four gold medals in fencing in category A in 2004. At the 2008 Summer Paralympics, she represented Hong Kong again, but since the team matches were canceled, she only won one gold and one silver medal in the individual events.[2]
Career
editYu first made her Paralympic games debut representing Hong Kong in the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games in Athens. She won four gold medals in wheelchair fencing in category A individual foil, team foil, individual épée, and team épée, becoming the first athlete to win four gold medals in fencing.[3]
In the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, Yu won gold in the Individual foil category A, and earned silver in the Individual épée category A, being bested by Zhang Chuncui who represented China.[4] However, in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, Yu took home gold medals in both individual épée category A and individual foil category A. She also earned a bronze medal in the open category team épée alongside teammates Chan Yui-chong and Fan Pui-shan.[5]
During the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Yu secured a silver medal in category A individual foil and in team épée with teammates Chan Yui-chong and Ng Justine Charissa.[6]
Personal life
editIn addition to attaining seven Paralympic gold medals, Yu is also a radio host, a columnist on the official paralympic movement website, and a co-founder of the Fencing Sport Academy for young children and teenagers. In her spare time, Yu stated she is an avid swimmer, runner, and plans to take up scuba diving and paragliding.[7]
Following her Paralympic debut in the 2004 Paralympic games in Athens, Yu was granted admission into the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Department of Geography and Resource Management, where she obtained her MA in Sports Studies.[7]
References
edit- ^ Saeki, John (7 September 2008). "HKG's wheelchair champion sets out to fend off China". France 24. Retrieved 25 October 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Chui Yee Yu". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee.
- ^ "Wheelchair Fencing at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Wheelchair Fencing at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Wheelchair Fencing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Wheelchair Fencing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Crossing Swords with Fate—Alison Yu conquers the unconquerable". 香港中文大學 The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
External links
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