Athlete Karen Kwok says, “You must accept your own limitations. Do not overthink. Seize every opportunity, discover your interests and strengths, and do your very best in everything.”
Blooming in the midst of limitations
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy in childhood, Karen Kwok’s path to growth was filled with challenges. Both her mobility and daily life were significantly restricted—she relies on a wheelchair to move and the mobility of her both hands is limited. Karen has dedicated over two decades to the sport of boccia. Through sheer willpower, she has broken through physical limitations to carve out her own legendary story. She competed in four Paralympic Games, reaching the pinnacle by winning gold in boccia at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Despite recent battles with injury, this veteran athlete of the Hong Kong, China team remains undaunted and ready to keep fighting on the international stage.
In the past, Karen’s parents were not only worried about her future but also had to face prejudice and discrimination from society. However, her mother, Pauline Tsang, maintained a positive attitude, “We must accept what happened. Instead of blaming fate, it is better to focus on solving the problem.” This resilience and open-mindedness became the family's anchor through hardship.
Pauline also believes her daughter inherited her optimistic and strong-willed character. Karen tried table tennis, swimming and other sports early on but struggled to continue due to her physical condition. Determined to find her niche, she finally discovered boccia at school—her "true love" and the stage where she belonged. In 1999, at just 13 years old, her intense focus and calm composure earned her a spot on the Hong Kong team, to her parents' immense pride and astonishment.
As Karen’s sporting journey gathered momentum, the support behind her also grew. Her ability to focus on training and compete internationally has been closely tied to the comprehensive backing of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).
After joining HKSI in recent years, she gained access to top-tier training facilities, equipment, systematic physical training, psychological counselling and physiotherapy. This backing allowed her to prepare for competitions with peace of mind.
Furthermore, Karen took home individual and team silver medals in the boccia events at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and received a cash award under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (JCAIAS). Pauline says, “The programme helped offset the high costs associated with training and equipment upgrades." She emphasised that this support was more than financial aid; it was a recognition of the athlete's value, allowing Karen to pursue excellence with single-minded dedication.
(Bottom) Karen took home individual and team silver medals in the boccia events at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and received a cash award under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme.
A journey shared as a family
Boccia has not only changed Karen Kwok’s life path, but also reshaped the daily rhythm of her entire family. The sport has become a shared bond for the family, with her parents being more than spectators—they are lifelong comrades-in-arms.
Her father became her personal boccia coach, accompanying every training session and analysing match strategies together. Her mother started out as a volunteer and later obtained international referee qualifications, offering professional guidance on competition rules and technical expertise. Boccia has tightly bonded the family together, giving Karen the strength to become her most powerful self and find a profound sense of fulfilment in life.
Passing on the legacy to keep the passion alive
“Every time I go into schools to share my story, I feel very happy and greatly encouraged,” Karen says. Since her 2008 Paralympic victory, Karen has lived by the belief in "influencing lives with life," actively visiting schools and communities to promote boccia and scout promising young talent in special schools. She encourages the younger generation to seize opportunities, discover their interest and strengths, and believe that everyone can live a life of value. She says that while she motivates the youth, their admiration, in turn, fuels her own spirit.
Although she has faced injuries in recent years, Karen remains deeply passionate about boccia. She hopes to continue competing for Hong Kong as long as her physical condition allows. At the same time, she is gradually transitioning into a coaching role, passing on more than 20 years of accumulated technical skills, tactical experience, and mental wisdom to the next generation. As Karen and her mother often say, “Never forget our original aspiration, and keep moving forward.”
Karen's journey, from living with cerebral palsy to winning Paralympic gold and mentoring the next generation, is a testament to perseverance and passion. We will continue to support athletes, strengthen the platform for dream chasers, and bring positive energy to the community.
(Bottom) Influenced by her mother, Karen is optimistic and strong-willed.
Did you know?
Established in 1982, the Hong Kong Sports Institute (formerly the Jubilee Sports Centre) serves as a training base for Hong Kong’s elite athletes.
Over the years, we have contributed over HK$700 million to the Institute. In 2013, it supported the redevelopment of the former athletes’ hostel into a multi‑purpose elite training and coaching centre, providing a stronger foundation for athletes with disabilities, junior elite training and coach education.
We also sponsored the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) to launch the three-year JCAIAS in 2023, providing cash awards to Hong Kong, China athletes with excellent achievements in seven major sports events. These include the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, World University Games, National Games and National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and respective Winter Games.
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