TSE, Michael Andrew

Michael has played many sports from American football, lacrosse to getting a black belt in karate. He found rowing later in life upon settling in Hong Kong and his path to becoming an Olympian was an interesting one. It was a moment of great pride for him to represent Hong Kong, the country of his father’s birth, and to participate in the Atlanta Olympics in the country where he was born, with all his family and so many of his friends being there to support him.

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Michael would say about himself that he wasn’t super gifted in any sport, but he is determined and has tenacity and the athlete spirit to always strive for being better. Within 5 years in the single scull, which many would say is the most difficult of all the boat classes because you are out there on your own and nowhere to hide, he became an Asian Games finalist (4th place), 2-time silver medalist at the 1995 and 1997 Asian Championships, a silver medalist at the Asian Regional Olympic Qualification Race, as well as being Hong Kong’s sole qualifier for rowing in 1996. Plagued with ongoing lower back injuries and actually re-injuring only weeks prior to the Olympic qualification race, left him flat on his back for hours and hardly able to row for weeks before the race.  However he still dug in and found a way to grab the qualification spot that he knew he had to get when he went out on the water that day. He had something to prove to himself and others. The ongoing back problems shortened his rowing career, but he was grateful that he did as well as he did in those years and to represent the flag of his father’s birth country.

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With over a decade of experience as the Head of Strength and Conditioning Department at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, Michael was involved in training athletes and consulting coaches where he worked with most of Hong Kong's top athletes, including Olympic, world champion and Asian Games medalists from sports such as cycling, fencing, rowing, swimming, track & field, triathlon, windsurfing, wushu, and numerous racket and other ball sports.  Michael currently serves on the HKSI Board of Directors.

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In 2007, Dr. Michael Tse joined HKU’s Institute of Human Performance and is currently Director of the Centre for Sports and Exercise where he leads, manage and enhance the Centre’s core areas in sport, health & wellbeing, exercise medicine and the operation of top notch sports facilities, enhancing student and staff experiences and participation in sport and physical activity.

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A life long athlete, Michael still keeps active playing various sports and in the past 10 years took up triathlon as a recreational sport. His years in rowing helped him learn how to push himself when needed and he has qualified for numerous Ironman 70.3 world championship races as well as the Kona Ironman World Championships. He also continues to plays softball recreationally.

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Michael works closely with various government sporting bodies and the SF&OC, sitting on many boards and committees, as well as with various National Sport Associations.

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Michael was approached by the World Olympians Association to form the Hong Kong chapter of the organisation, becoming a founding member and the inaugural President of the HK Olympians Association.