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The balance beam is Mei-Yu Lau's favorite event, but she is eager to compete in all the gymnastics events that Special Olympics offers. [Photo by Kathy Smallwood] |
June, 2003
Special Olympics Hong Kong athlete Mei-Yu Lau, 16, is a champion. She scored a perfect “10” on the balance beam at the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games in North Carolina, USA, and hopes to be a master of her sport again at the 2003 World Games in Ireland. Lau lives in Taipo and has competed in Special Olympics for six years.
The balance beam is her favorite, but she vigorously competes in all the gymnastics events that Special Olympics has to offer. Just mention the word gymnastics and her face lights up. It is her beloved sport. Lau is a formidable opponent, and it’s no wonder — even when there is no formal practice, she practices on her own almost every day.
“Special Olympics has not only given me the opportunity to compete but also the confidence to compete. I am very proud of my accomplishments and where else would I get the chance to travel around the world?” said Lau. She is quite a celebrity at the special school she attends because of the gold, silver and bronze medals she has won.
Lau is straightforward about her life before Special Olympics. Life was dull. She said she didn’t have much to do, and she wasn’t making a contribution to life. Now her days are full and she has many friends.
Lau wants to coach once she retires from competition and sees Special Olympics as a lifelong involvement. Right now though, retirement is a long way off. Lau and the rest of the world’s best Special Olympics gymnasts are competing in front of “standing room only” crowds at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland.
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