"He is a very determined person with a strong ability to absorb new things. If we're talking about his weaknesses, he's quite stubborn, but that stubbornness is also one of his strengths. Without that stubbornness, how would he have made it this far?"

Author

A

Interviewee

Coach Wong

The opportunity to get to know Hanniel

Coach Wong once taught physical education at Hanniel's primary school and first met him in third grade. In her memory, Han Nie was a "problem child" when he was young. "He loved asking questions, was very active, the kind of kid who just couldn't sit still." This paints a picture of Hanniel as an energetic and curious child, full of questions and constantly on the move. His personality seems to have been quite vibrant from a young age. It’s interesting to see how his traits as a child may have shaped his development later on.

At the time, Coach Wang never imagined that Hanniel would have such talent for long-distance running. "He was so small back then, and I thought anyone who said they could see his potential was just kidding." However, Coach Wong understands that the potential of children is often hard to predict. "Children should start exercising from a young age. Through track and field activities and games, they can develop the coordination of their muscles and bones." She believes that if children spend more time building a solid foundation in their early years, advancing in sports later on will not be difficult.

According to Coach Wong, Hanniel was a "sports omnivore" when he was younger.

"Back then, their school would let them try different sports, such as track and field, modern dance, gymnastics, taekwondo, football, and more." As far as she knew, Hanniel had played football, participated in triathlons, and played badminton in primary school. "Before he trained with me for running, he was the goalkeeper for the district football team," Coach Wong explained. "He participated in different sports to develop his muscle coordination and strength. These fundamentals are very important for long-distance running." It is likely that Hanniel's success in the 3000m steeplechase is related to his early exposure to multiple sports.

However, later on, Hanniel ultimately made a choice. "At first, he was training for running while also practicing football. Eventually, he told me he wasn't playing football anymore."

An Athlete Who Juggles Multiple Sports

As for why he decided to focus solely on running from then on?

"He didn't go into detail, but I think he just couldn't manage so many things at once." However, Hanniel is a person of many talents. The Chinese University once reported that he had a background in piano, and his personal page shows that he frequently participates in various church and community activities. In Hong Kong, there aren't many people who can balance both sports and academics, but Hanniel has won multiple long-distance races and held several Hong Kong records. He also had the opportunity to further his studies at Oxford University. It seems that during his growth, he inevitably had to give up some of his talents.

"Hanniel is a person with very high expectations of himself. I always have to remind him not to do too much," Coach Wong shared. What few people know is that Hanniel has actually considered quitting twice. "After breaking the 3000m steeplechase youth record, he told me he was done with running! Then, after going to the U.S., he rarely came back to train, only continuing after winning the Hong Kong Marathon." According to Coach Wong, at that time, he was probably overwhelmed with pressure. Perhaps it was his high self-expectations and dissatisfaction with himself that led him to consider quitting in order to make time and space for more immediate concerns. "Running serves different roles at different times. People don't stay children forever. When you're young, running might just be for fun, but as you grow older, running could be a way to relieve stress. He was under a lot of pressure with his studies, so of course, he couldn't maintain such high expectations for running." This understanding between mentor and mentee is truly rare.

Allowing athletes to adjust is the wisdom of a coach. After all, rest is for a longer journey. But as a coach, why would she easily let Hanniel retire? "The bond between a coach and an athlete exists on the field. He has to choose his own life, and of course, I support him. But I’ll always be here on the field, and whenever he decides to return, he’ll always be welcome." However, Coach Wong also said with a hint of amusement, "You see, he always says he’s retiring, but with his personality, how could he really do that? He’ll be back before you know it! But this kid, the more you tell him not to, the more he wants to do it." In fact, the deep bond between Coach Wong and Hanniel is evident in her profound understanding of him.

Hanniel's Long-Distance Running Spirit

Why did Hanniel become a long-distance running elite?

"He is a very determined person with a strong ability to absorb," Coach Wong shared. "His weakness is that he’s very stubborn, but that stubbornness is also his strength. If he weren’t stubborn, how could he have come this far?" Hanniel broke youth records in the 4×1500m, 10000m, and 3000m steeplechase, and set adult records in the 3000m steeplechase, one-mile, and Hong Kong Marathon local men's record. This year, he became the third Hong Kong male to break the 2:20 barrier at the Prague Marathon. His abilities are beyond question. But in Coach Wong’s eyes, what makes him truly unique is his fighting spirit.

"I've seen many capable runners, but there are few like Hanniel who have such ideas. He plays a pioneering role. Although he faces more difficulties than others, I believe he won't give up easily." Indeed, he has mentioned in various media interviews that he hopes to prove that sports and academics are not in conflict, aspiring to be a trailblazer. Additionally, Hanniel expressed his desire to qualify for the Paris Olympics after the Hong Kong Marathon, and three years later, he improved his time to 2:20. Although he is still some distance away from the qualifying standard, it is clear that he is someone who works hard towards his goals. However, to be honest, given his current progress, it seems unlikely he will meet the standard.

"Setting a goal doesn't guarantee you will achieve it. Hanniel's life has been too smooth. He needs to experience some setbacks in order to grow better." Coach Wong hopes that, in addition to achieving good results, Hanniel's life can also experience growth. "He recently talked to me about his current situation. I think it would be better for him to take some time to adjust before moving forward. After all, he still has a long way to go."

As for where he is headed?

"Out of respect, that's something you should ask him yourself." Coach Wong smiled with a calm and joyful expression. It seems that his relationship with Hanniel is filled with happy memories.