Chan Chun Hing

Chun Hing Chan (born 24 April 1981) MH is a Hong Kong former professional racing cyclist. He specialised in cross-country mountain biking although he also participated in road races.

Early years
Chan was born on 24 April 1981 in British Hong Kong. He grew up in Fanling with his parents and five older siblings. Chan went to Kei San Secondary School, where he took up downhill mountain biking at Form 2. After graduating from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Chan trained part-time as a road cyclist and took up a job in the telecom industry for two years. In 2002 at the age of 21, Chan decided to quit his job and became a full-time athlete and turned his focus into cross-country mountain biking. Chan was coached by Jinkang Shen.

Career
In his early professional years, Chan competed in both cross-country mountain biking and road cycling. Chan won gold in the 2003 China National Mountain Bike Championship and also in the 2005 China National Road Cycling Championships. In 2006, Chan won silver at the Asian Mountain Bike Championship, an event that he finished third in the subsequent three years (2007, 2008 and 2009). In 2007, Chan won a bronze medal in the individual road race 196 km event at the Asian Cycling Championships.

Chan competed in the 2009 Chinese National Games and won a silver medal in cross-country mountain biking. This performance brought him to the fore and Chan blazed to gold in the cross-country mountain bike race at the 16th Asian Games in 2010,  crossing the finish line at 2 hours 11 minutes and 33 seconds and beating his main rival Japanese rider Kohei Yamamoto. Chan's performance has impressed the Hong Kong cycling hierarchy, and he received the Hong Kong Potential Sports Stars Awards for 2010. In 2011, Chan won gold in the China National Mountain Bike Championship, and he also received the Medal of Honour from the Hong Kong Government in 2011 for his outstanding achievements in international cycling competitions.

Chan took part in the 2012 London Olympics. He participated in the cross-country cycling race. Chan eventually finished in 38th place (out of 50 competitors) with a time of 1 hour 41 minutes and 59 seconds.

Chan competed for Hong Kong at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in the mountain biking cross-country race. He finished in 32nd place with a time of 1 hour 44 minutes and 41 seconds. He was the flag bearer for Hong Kong during the closing ceremony. Chan retired from racing after the 2016 Summer Olympics. Chan became a cycling coach after his retirement. He has also set up companies organising mountain bike racing competitions and bicycle touring.

Personal life
Although Chan grew up on a farm, he is afraid of snakes. Chan married Sin Ying Leung, a former Hong Kong A1 Division Championship basketball player and former ATV sports news presenter, in 2012. As of 2016, the couple has one son together.

Major results

 * 2003
 * 1st Gold medal blank.svg Cross-country, China National Mountain Bike Championships


 * 2005
 * 1st Gold medal blank.svg Road race, China National Road Cycling Championships


 * 2006
 * 2nd Silver medal blank.svg Cross-country, Asian Mountain Bike Championships


 * 2007
 * 3rd Bronze medal blank.svg Cross-country, Asian Mountain Bike Championships
 * 3rd Bronze medal blank.svg Road race, Asian Cycling Championships


 * 2008
 * 3rd Bronze medal blank.svg Cross-country, Asian Mountain Bike Championships


 * 2009
 * 3rd Bronze medal blank.svg Cross-country, Asian Mountain Bike Championships
 * 2nd Silver medal blank.svg Cross-country, Chinese National Games


 * 2010
 * 1st Gold medal asia.svg Cross-country, Asian Games


 * 2011
 * 1st Gold medal blank.svg Cross-country, China National Mountain Bike Championships