AU Hoi Shun Stephanie

General
RETIREMENT PLANS
In early 2020 she announced that she planned to retire from swimming after the 2020 Olympic Games in Toyko. She then changed her mind after the Games were postponed, indicating that she would like to carry on competing in 2022. "The epidemic happened and the Olympics were postponed until 2021. It will then be less than a year until the 2022 Asian Games, so it seems that I should swim for another year. Although the Asian Games is not a world event, the atmosphere is stronger and Hong Kong athletes have more chances to compete for medals. I think if I retired, I'd be thinking after one year, 'Why have I got nothing to do?'. But Tokyo will be the last time that I compete at the Olympics." (cityhowwhy.com.hk, 01 Jun 2020; scmp.com, 04 Jan 2020)

RETURN FROM USA
She chose to return to Hong Kong, China instead of staying in the United States of America after she finished her studies at University of California, Berkeley in 2014. "It [spending time in the United States of America] definitely helped me become a better swimmer. However, there is a strong mental aspect to being an athlete. It's not just the swimming or the gym work, it's about your whole being and your state of mind. Physically, I can be great in the US but the mental part of training with my home coach and being closer to my family is important, too. I don't regret coming back to Hong Kong at all." (scmp.com, 01 Dec 2018)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has worked as an actress and received a nomination in the Best New Performer category at the 2018 Hong Kong Film awards for her role in the film, 'Love off the Cuff'. She has also worked as a fashion model and a radio host. (Facebook page, 10 Mar 2021; sportsroad.hk, 03 Oct 2020; hashtaglegend.com, 03 Apr 2018)