When children encounter adversity, how should parents support them in facing it?
At this year's Paris Olympics, Hong Kong's first two gold medallists, Cheung Ka Long and Kong Man Wai, provided the finest example. Competing respectively in women's épée and men's foil, both athletes advanced through the rounds with remarkable determination. Though their paths to victory were far from smooth, each ultimately secured gold. How can parents help their children adopt a positive mindset when facing adversity? These athletes offer valuable insights.
Embracing Challenges with Courage and Dedication
Both demonstrated extraordinary courage throughout their journeys from preliminary rounds to finals. Kong Man Wai, the reigning world champion and clear favourite to win this year's title, found herself trailing 1-7 shortly after the final commenced. Faced with such adversity, most would have conceded defeat. Instead, she summoned extraordinary courage. To realise her dream, she refused to retreat in the face of formidable opposition. She turned the tables, confronting the challenge head-on, ultimately securing a triumphant outcome.
Success requires more than mere courage; diligent effort in daily life is equally vital. Like most athletes, during her school years, Kong Man Wai practised fencing daily after classes. Her formidable strength stems not only from physical talent but more significantly from the accumulation of countless hours of training. Yet she never let sport compromise her studies. Beyond occasionally rising at 5am to complete assignments, she would even tackle homework on flights during international competitions. This demonstrates how personal discipline and diligence are indispensable on the path to success – qualities well worth emulating.
Reminding herself to ‘stay positive’ and seize every opportunity
Defending Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka Long once again reached the pinnacle of the men's foil final. His path to retaining the title proved far from straightforward, even seeing him pushed to the brink of elimination. What enabled him to overcome such formidable obstacles? As he stated in his post-match interview: ‘Strive to perform your best in every bout. Even if defeated, never give up. Approach each thrust with a positive mindset.’ Often, success or failure hinges on a single thought. Cheung demonstrated through action that maintaining an optimistic outlook, believing one controls their destiny, and facing adversity with positivity prevents being easily defeated by challenges.
Everyone encounters setbacks, even gold medallists. But how should one respond when they arise? We might well learn from these two gold medallists: even when faced with immense difficulty, never give up easily. For them, reaching the Olympics was no simple feat. Precisely because such opportunities are hard-won, they are naturally cherished all the more. Parents can also tell their children that life may bring disappointments, but these are precious experiences and opportunities for growth. Persevering through them inevitably yields gains, leading to progress and greater strength!
As the saying goes, ‘Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.’ Just as these two fencers achieved gold on the fencing piste after enduring countless highs and lows, parents can draw from their journey to encourage children to train diligently and pursue learning. They should also inspire youngsters to embrace every life challenge with a positive mindset.