伦敦奥运香港选手韦汉娜

With the London Olympics fast upon us, WSJ.com introduces athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Games. Today we feature Hannah Wilson, a swimmer from Hong Kong.

在伦敦夏季奥运会开幕前夕，《华尔街日报》网站WSJ.com将介绍一些奥运参赛选手。本期介绍的是来自香港的游泳运动员韦汉娜（Hannah Wilson）。

Events: 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle

参赛项目：50米自由泳、100米自由泳

Born: 10 March, 1989

出生日期：1989年3月10日

Career: London 2012 will be Hannah Wilson's third Olympics representing Hong Kong. Born and raised in the territory, this 23-year-old previously held a British passport and was competing in the national swimming team using her Hong Kong identity card.

赛场生涯：2012年伦敦奥运会将是韦汉娜第三次代表香港参加奥运会。她今年23岁，在香港出生和长大，之前持有英国护照；作为中国香港游泳队的队员，她以前是持香港居民身份证参加奥运比赛。

In 2004, the International Olympic Committee made the decision to require all competitors to hold the passport of the country they are representing.

2004年，国际奥委会（International Olympic Committee）做出决定，要求所有参赛运动员必须持有所代表国家的护照。

'For the past two Games, I had to gain special permission from the Olympic Committee to swim with my U.K. passport,' said Ms. Wilson.

韦汉娜说：“在过去两届奥运会上，我不得不获得奥委会的特别许可，才能用我的英国护照参赛。

After the Beijing Games, Ms. Wilson made the decision to renounce her British citizenship in 2010 to take up a Hong Kong passport.

北京奥运会后，韦汉娜在2010年决定放弃英国公民身份，转持香港护照。

'It doesn't make much of a difference to me if I have the British passport or not,' Ms. Wilson added. 'I've never lived in the U.K.and it has never been my home.'

“对我来说，是否拥有英国护照没多大区别。韦汉娜说，“我从来没有在英国生活过，那里也从来不是我的家。

A recent graduate of University of California,Berkeley, Ms. Wilson swam alongside Olympic medalists such as U.S. swimmers Natalie Coughlin and Emily Silver. Even now, Ms. Wilson trains at Berkeley under Teri McKeever, head coach of the U.S. Olympic women's swimming team.

韦汉娜最近毕业于加州大学伯克利分校（University of California,Berkeley），曾与同一学校的美国游泳运动员娜塔莉.考芙琳（Natalie Coughlin）和艾米丽.席尔瓦（Emily Silver）等奖牌得主并肩游泳。即使现在，韦汉娜仍在伯克利训练，教练是美国奥运女子游泳队主教练泰里.麦基弗（Teri McKeever）。

During the London Games, Ms. Wilson isn't necessarily expecting to land on the podium. The sprint specialist is taking part in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle.

韦汉娜的短距离爆发能力出众，将参加本届奥运会的50米自由泳和100米自由泳比赛，但她并不期望自己能登上领奖台。

'I'm just aiming to do my best and beat my personal records,' said Ms. Wilson. She currently holds Hong Kong's records in seven categories including relays.

韦汉娜说：“我的目标是尽力而为，打破我的个人最好成绩。她现在保持着包括接力赛在内的七个项目的香港记录。

Hong Kong's news outlets branded Ms. Wilson a child prodigy after she took part in her first Olympics at the tender age of 15. However, Ms. Wilson felt that her career hit its low two years ago and struggled to regain her footing in time for the Olympic qualifiers earlier this year.

韦汉娜15岁首次参加奥运会后，香港资讯媒体把她奉之为神童；但在两年前，韦汉娜感到自己的职业生涯陷入低谷。今年早些时候，她奋力拼搏，才保住自己的奥运参赛资格。

'I had a two-year slump in my swimming career after a very successful year in 2010,' she said. 'Knowing the London Games were around the corner, I struggled coming back to training last August.' Her graduation from college and leaving the renowned collegiate swimming team at Berkeley were stress factors.

“2010年大获成功后，我的游泳生涯步入了两年的低谷。她说。“为备战伦敦奥运会，我在去年8月重新努力投入训练。 韦汉娜近期大学毕业，离开著名的伯克利大学游泳队，这也给她带来不少的压力。

However, the athlete bounced back and currently ranks 46th in the world in the 100-meter freestyle. She says this would be her strongest race during the Games.

不过，她的状态迅速恢复，现在100米自由泳世界排名的第46位。韦汉娜说，100米自由泳将是本届奥运会中她最有信心的项目。

When Hong Kong's athletes marched at the opening ceremonies in Beijing in 2010, she stood out as the only non-ethnic Chinese in the contingent. But she says that she fits in just fine.

在2010年北京奥运会开幕式上，当香港运动员入场时，韦汉娜作为队伍中唯一的非华裔运动员显得格外引人注目，但她觉得自己能很好地融入团队。

'It's been that way for me for a long time,' said Ms. Wilson. 'I don't get treated differently.'

“这种情况一直以来都是这样。韦汉娜说。“我没有受到过区别对待。

Since entering college in the U.S.five years ago, she hasn't spent much time in Hong Kong.

五年前她去美国上大学后，在香港待的时间就少了。

'I go back once a year to compete in a local competition just to stay on the national team,' she said.

韦汉娜说：“我每年回来一次，参加香港本地的比赛，好留在香港队中。

Besides training as a full-time swimmer, Ms. Wilson volunteers at the temporary events section in San Francisco's Department of Public Health. She is honing her skills in event planning, a field she plans to venture into once she retires as a professional swimmer.

除参加职业游泳运动员的日常训练外，韦汉娜还在旧金山公共卫生局（Department of Public Health）临时活动部做志愿者。她正在磨练自己的活动策划能力，打算在游泳退役后投身于该领域。

Memorable quote

语录：

'I wasn't sure if I was going to qualify for the Games or if I was going to have fun with the sport again. But I have had a great year this year and am happy with where I am now.'

“我不确定自己是否能获得奥运参赛资格，能否再次享受这项运动的乐趣，但我今年的成绩很不错，我对现在的状态很满意。