Stephanie Au

Stephanie Au is the only athlete to represent Hong Kong in the Summer Olympics four times, having taken part in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021. Showing
no signs of slowing down, the professional swimmer also has her sights set on next year’s games in Paris. Born and raised here, Au caught the world’s attention in 2016 when she carried the Hong Kong flag during the Rio games. Since then, she’s blossomed as a fashion icon, appearing in countless fashion shoots and ad campaigns, as well as on screen. After years of competition, Au knows better than anyone how stress and pressure can affect an athlete’s outlook and performance. She has long used her own platform to talk about her own ups and downs, advocating for mental health and shining a light on the sporting community. After a conversation with fellow swimmers Camille Cheng and Jamie Yeung at the Tokyo Olympics, Au decided to set up a safe space for youths and other athletes to talk about mental wellbeing. The result was Mind the Waves, founded this year with the intention of normalising conversations around mental health through open talks, live-stream chats, community events and a mentorship programme.