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Jimmy Chow

After two decades of quiet perseverance, Hong Kong boccia player John Loung finally struck gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Loung’s story of endurance has earned him a place as a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the perseverance category.
Co-organised by the South China Morning Post and Sino Group, the annual awards honour unsung heroes whose courage, compassion and determination make a positive difference in the community.
Born with cerebral palsy, Loung has limited speech and mobility, but on the boccia court he communicates with remarkable clarity.
He was introduced to boccia at 13 through a programme run by the Hong Kong Red Cross at his special school. The sport, which demands precision, patience and strategic control, soon became his lifelong passion.
At first, he thought it looked simple – just rolling a ball towards a target – but soon realised how technical and demanding it was.
“He thought it was easy,” said Lai Ka-lok, Loung’s interpreter and a member of the coaching team led by head coach Kwok Hart-wing. “Then he found out that every throw requires concentration and purpose.”
From that moment, Loung, now 39, devoted himself entirely to the sport.
He began representing Hong Kong in international competitions as early as the 2004 Athens Paralympics and has competed in almost every edition since.
Each cycle brought challenges – physical exhaustion, intense competition, and years of narrowly missing a medal.
Yet he never gave up, and the coaching team kept faith with him.
“He doesn’t talk much, but his attitude tells you everything,” Lai said. “Every practice, every throw, he puts his heart into it.”
Training with cerebral palsy requires extraordinary stamina. Loung trains five days a week, combining technique drills with mental conditioning.
His perseverance finally paid off in Paris, where he won the gold medal in the BC1 individual event – his first Paralympic gold after 20 years of competing.
“He said it felt like a dream come true. For him, that medal was proof that hard work and patience are always worth it,” Lai translated for Loung.
“When he’s on the court, he doesn’t need to speak. His focus says it all.”

Now, after reaching the pinnacle of his sport, Loung is preparing for his next challenge – the coming National Games for Persons with Disabilities.
He hopes to achieve good results and once again make Hong Kong proud.
Asked what the Spirit of Hong Kong meant to him, Loung responded through Lai with characteristic simplicity: “Just don’t give up and keep going.”
And when asked how he might respond to lingering stereotypes or misconceptions about people with his condition, he indicated after a pause: “If people don’t understand us. It’s OK. Just come to me. I’m always willing to share and help them understand who we are.”


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After being introduced to the sport at 13, John Loung competed for two decades before striking gold at the Paris games last year


After being introduced to the sport at 13, John Loung competed for two decades before striking gold at the Paris games last year.


Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: boccia player who won Paralympic gold after 20 years

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}After being introduced to the sport at 13, John Loung competed for two decades before striking gold at the Paris games last year

After being introduced to the sport at 13, John Loung competed for two decades before striking gold at the Paris games last year