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

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.

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