10 Questions with Camille Cheng, Olympic Swimmer & Asian Games Medallist
Meet Camille Cheng, Hong Kong’s very own Olympian! Competitively swimming since the age of nine and first placing in the 2014 Asian Games, competition is no stranger to her. From Hong Kong to Rio, stuffed toys to medals, we sit down with Camille to hear about her journey, the secret behind staying motivated, the importance of mental resilience and more...
1. Tell us about yourself. What do you do? What are you most passionate about?
Hi! My name is Camille Cheng and I’m a Hong Kong Olympic swimmer. I’m currently training for the Tokyo Olympic Games with hopes to represent Hong Kong at my second Olympics. I studied psychology during undergrad and obtained my Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational psychology. I’m also pursuing an online graduate certificate in sports and performance psychology. I see mental training to be just as important as physical training, and hope to contribute to a holistic approach to sport in Asia. I’m passionate about sharing my journey and experience with others. I want to inspire people to their own goals.
2. You started swimming competitively at nine years old, today you find yourself as an Asian Games medallist and Olympian. What three things contributed to your success?
- Passion and purpose – I have a passion for swimming and enjoy reaching goals.
- Support system – I’m lucky to have family, teammates, coaches and friends who, not only support my goals but also push and challenge me.
- Dedication and hard work – you need both to keep you going!
3. Tell us about an obstacle that you were faced with in your life or career. How did you overcome it?
As with many athletes, I’ve faced several ups and downs during my athletic career. I think one of the biggest lows was after the Rio Olympics. I had wanted to take a break as I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Although I had just come off an incredibly special time in Rio, I was left a bit disoriented. I worked so hard for this Olympic dream and afterwards, I couldn’t help but feel ‘now what?’. I went from intense structure and routine, working towards a clear goal, to the complete opposite. It was during this time that I felt like I had unfinished business. I felt like while physically I was in top shape, I was still not as mentally fit. Once I had this realisation, I decided to go for another Olympics with a renewed perspective and different goals.
4. Can you tell us something most people don’t know about you?
I have a good luck stuffed animal… and I take it everywhere!
5. What are your three favourite things about Hong Kong?
- The vast contrast between city life and nature. I love being outdoors and like to spend my time at the beach or hiking.
- The local food. I’m a big fan of BBQ pork rice, dim sum and cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafés) breakfast.
- The culture. I’m proud to represent Hong Kong!
6. How do you keep your motivation up when you’re competing at such an elite level? Has your motivation changed since COVID restrictions came into place? Do you have any tips for people struggling to stay active this year?
Keeping motivation at such an elite level is something that I believe requires a strong sense of self-awareness. I think it’s important for an athlete to know and understand what motivates them, and what helps them stay motivated as this can be highly individualised. The hardest part of COVID restrictions has been the lack of competitions. Without the competitions, it’s been hard to stay motivated as I’ve sometimes felt that I’m training for nothing. It’s forced me to come up with new goals (some unrelated to swimming) and to be more creative with my training. I’ve started doing more yoga, boxing and running!
7. What piece of advice would you give to people pursuing what they love?
Know your why. As long as you know it, I believe you can overcome all hardships and obstacles. It’s a bit of a cliche but, a coach once said, ‘nothing worth having comes easy’. It’s stuck with me.
8. What financial tips would you give them? How did financial planning support your journey?
Because I didn't pick a traditional career, it definitely took more financial planning to support my journey as an athlete. I've actually been doing spending reports since I was in high school! It’s so important to develop a positive relationship with your finances. That’s the only way I’ve been able to budget for what I need.
9. How do you see your career and lifestyle evolving? What are you most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to the next chapter! Once my swimming career is over, I know there will be many things I will miss from swimming, but I’m confident that the tools I've gained from my athletic career will carry into whatever I choose to do next.
10. Complete the following sentences:
Growing up, I believed money was…
the key to independence.
Now, I view money as…
still a means of independence. It’s a fundamental part of life!
To me, financial empowerment means…
having the freedom to create the life you want.
What’s your favourite Mox feature and how does it fit into your daily life?
The ‘Goal’ feature because, as a goal-oriented person, it helps me stay accountable for what I'm working towards. I like it because it’s also a visual reminder to track my progress.
Mox Masterclass: ‘Sweat it out’ with Camille Cheng (Virtual)
We've invited Olympic swimmer, Camille Cheng, to lead a virtual ‘Sweat It Out’ Mox Masterclass - a unique chance to experience an Olympian workout routine!
Join us on 15 Feb (11am - 12 noon) as Camille takes us through her favourite full-body circuit workout (on the ground, not in the water this time!). You’ll also have the chance to be part of a 10-minute Q&A session with Camille herself. Ask her about fitness tips, her journey and more!
Taking place right during the Chinese New Year holidays, this is a great way to stay active and keep that energy flowing.
Be a goal achiever. Be Generation Mox.
Space is limited, so open a Mox account to sign up through the dedicated link in the Mox app under “Discover Tab > Mox Masterclass” now!
Remarks: The views expressed by individuals featured in this interview are the personal views of such individuals and do not necessarily reflect, and, should not be taken as the views of Mox Bank Limited.
Are you Generation Mox?
Download the Mox app on the App Store and Google Play now!
