Swimmers plunged into Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on Sunday morning to participate in the Cross Harbour Race from Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wan Chai to the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions, a total of 1,500 people took part in this year’s event, half of the pre-pandemic amount.
Eighteen-year-old Jimmy Kwok won the men’s individual open category race, completing the one-kilometre swim in 14 minutes and 25.6 seconds, while Athena Wong won the women’s race in 15 minutes and 11.4 seconds.
Kwok swum in the wrong direction before crossing the finishing line in first place, a repeat of a mistake he made last year that cost him the title. “I made the same mistake again, but luckily I still won,” he said.
Ahead of diving into the water, some swimmers waved to spectators. Both Kwok and Wong said the weather was good for the race.
Also participating in the race were pro-Beijing lawmakers Vincent Cheng, Eunice Yung and Yiu Pak-leung.
Yung said it was her first time joining the event, saying “I feel good to have challenged myself.” Cheng added that Covid-prevention procedures had been smooth, and he looked forward to Hong Kong hosting more sporting events, such as the Hong Kong Marathon and international rugby tournament the Hong Kong Sevens
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