A jumping life of a physiotherapist
In an outpatient paediatric treatment room of the Physiotherapy Department at Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Resident Physiotherapist Jin Chow teaches a child how to jump rope. Every jump is designed to train their motor coordination, cardiopulmonary function and lower-limb muscle strength and endurance. When Jin takes off his uniform, his silhouette becomes as light and swift as the wind. He glides into the jump rope urbanely, performs swing criss-cross, high-low variations, and moves spectacularly seamlessly. As it turns out, he is a rope skipping athlete, who has clinched the bronze medal in the Team Show Freestyle contest at the Asian Jump Rope Union (AJRU) 2024.
Representing Hong Kong in the Asian competition
Jin first encountered rope skipping in primary three, and since then, it has been a passion spanning 16 years. The most unforgettable moment of his athletic career was representing Hong Kong for the first time at the AJRU. In the contest, he collaborated with 20 teammates to perform a six-minute show that was evaluated on difficulty, teamwork, and musical synchronisation. However, the journey was fraught with challenges. "Just before the competition, my teammates fell ill or got injured one after another, pushing us to adjust our moves constantly and rehearse repeatedly. This experience not only tested our problem-solving skills and teamwork but also taught me the importance of communication," he shares.
Passing on the torch of spirit
Beyond his identity as an athlete, Jin is also a rope skipping coach inspired by his own mentor, "my family once persuaded me to pause skipping class to focus on the HKDSE exams. But I did not want to give up, so I saved up my pocket money to pay for lessons. Yet, my coach refused to accept the money, saying, 'if you are eager to learn, I will support you,' and continued teaching me selflessly." This generosity deeply motivated Jin to plant the seed of mentorship in his heart.
Today, Jin carries forward the same spirit with his students, "when I see my students facing financial difficulties, I will do everything I can to help them, no matter providing skipping ropes or funding their training resources."
Training class for children with developmental delay
His dual role as athlete and coach intertwines with his work in physiotherapy. With the support of colleagues and supervisors, Jin launched a children's rope-skipping class at the hospital last year to provide rehabilitation training for children with developmental delay through simple rope skipping techniques. "Rope skipping techniques may be complicated, so I will break them down into easy-to-understand steps when teaching kids. I also structure the training into phases – starting with basics like swinging rope and simple jumps, progressing to front jump techniques, and once mastered, moving on to simple freestyle foot tricks and even group skipping to build teamwork," says Jin.
For Jin, professionalism and interest are inseparable, and in return, they enrich his career and life. Looking ahead, he aspires to excel in both rope skipping and physiotherapy, "I strive to be a better physiotherapist, expanding the skipping class to help more patients to keep fit and rehabilitate. And as an athlete, I will keep pushing my limits to achieve even greater results."
