A woman who took seventh place in the 1978 edition of the celebrated Cross-Harbour Race as a 9-year-old is set to take the plunge again at this year’s event on Sunday Oct. 16.
Ng Hing-wah, 47, swam twice in the original races – once in 1977 and then again the following year. One of the youngest participants in the 1978 race, she came in seventh – an incredible feat.
Now based in the U.S., Ng decided to apply this year as it coincides with a high school reunion that she plans to be in town for, reports Oriental Daily.
Reminiscing over her time in the 1978 race, Ng told the paper that her mother had tied a red balloon to her waist in order to make sure she didn’t “get lost”.
All together now: awwww.
Originally founded in 1906, the Cross-Harbour Race was a legendary competition that saw a turnout of hundreds. It was held annually, except during wartime, until 1978 – when it was forced to come to an end due to increasing levels of water pollution.
The event was brought back in 2011, following a proposal by the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association. Sponsored by New World Development, it was renamed the New World Harbour Race and has taken place every year since.
This year’s New World Harbour Race will be held this Sunday, 8:30am. Spectators can cheer on the swimmers at Lei Yue Mun Sam Ka Tsuen Public Pier on Kowloon side, or Quarry Bay Park Public Pier on Hong Kong Island.
