Health is wealth, as the saying goes, and for elite athletes like Ian Ho – a Hong Kong swimmer who competed in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and 2022 Asian Games – it plays a vital role in career success.
Ho recently met with Victoria Tang-Owen, a Hong Kong designer and creative director, for a conversation about what holistic health means to him and what drives him to excel at competitive swimming, overcoming obstacles along the way.
Although they come from two different worlds – Tang-Owen’s work spans fashion and culture – the topic of health provides a common ground for sharing and learning from one another. Their chat began at the HSBC Life Health and Wellness (Longevity) Centre, located on the 99th floor of the International Commerce Centre, before moving to another panoramic viewpoint in Hong Kong: The Peak.
When Tang-Owen asks for his take on the value of health, Ho responds: “You are healthy when you are wealthy. You can move, you can do the activities that you want to do.
“I’ve heard it said like this: if you were given one car, and you had to drive that car for the rest of your life, how would you take care of it? You want to take good care of it so that it can run for a long time.”
Ho also addresses the importance of mindset in health and wellness, noting that it factors into key traits shared among athletes who have achieved elite status. “I think one thing that I’ve noticed at a very high level is some of these athletes have this ability to be resilient and to be adaptable,” he says. “That is the making of people who are really great.”
For Ho, relationships have proven essential to maintaining good mental and physical health. He tells Tang-Owen about how he struggled with plantar fasciitis – an inflammation of the tissue connecting the heel bone and toes – as well as issues with an ankle tendon. The injuries not only affected his ability to walk, but also his training in the pool. “I couldn’t do a start, I couldn’t do a turn,” Ho recalls.
But thanks to help from a physiologist friend, Ho was able to bounce back after a couple of months. “I’ve had people that either volunteered to help me or were just there with me during a time when I was struggling mentally or physically,” he says. “It takes a village, and if you want to be part of a village, you have to be a villager.”
After spending time with Ho, Tang-Owen says she came away with a new perspective on prioritising physical well-being, and has learned to view it as an investment that pays off throughout a lifetime.
“It’s not just about the body, but it’s also the mind, and the importance of mental resilience and listening to the body. These are all the lessons that I’ll be thinking about for a long time,” she says.
Watch the video to hear more of Victoria Tang-Owen’s conversation with Ian Ho, see them explore the HSBC Life Health and Wellness (Longevity) Centre, and also join them on a hike to The Peak. This is the second episode of “The Elite Equation”, a four-part series sponsored by HSBC Premier Elite where host Tang-Owen meets stand-out individuals from the worlds of fashion, sport and business to find out what drives them to be the best as they pursue their passions.
HSBC on the healthcare benefits it offers clients through HSBC Premier Elite:
HSBC Premier Elite supports your well-being by offering access to 24-hour medical concierge services, longevity wellness retreats and other exclusive healthcare benefits.
Investment involves risks. Terms and conditions apply.
“HSBC” refers to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. “HSBC Life” refers to HSBC Life (International) Limited (incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability).
Disclaimer from the South China Morning Post:
This article is produced in partnership with HSBC for general informational purposes only. The views expressed by featured individuals are their own and do not constitute medical, insurance or financial advice. The South China Morning Post and featured individuals disclaim all liability for, and do not endorse or guarantee, any products or services offered by HSBC or its affiliates (including HSBC Life and HSBC Premier Elite).
