Miss Robyn Lamsam, 17, is a case in point. Now a sixth-former at Diocesan Girls' School, she has been a member of the Hong Kong swimming team for four years.
Miss Lamsam participated in the Olympic Games in 1992 and the Asian Games in 1994. She won a bronze medal at the Asian Games.
"I have been taking swimming seriously as for about 10 years. During an intensive training period _ say, the one last year just before the Asian Games _ I swam about 10 to 11 sessions every week. Each of them lasts for two and a half hours," said Miss Lamsam.
"At that period, I got up at half past 4 every morning. Then I swam from 5:30 a.m. to about 8 a.m. After breakfast, I undertook more physical conditioning and running practices.
"I would take a rest at 11 a.m. and begin to swim again from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m."
Because of the intensive daily training schedule, Miss Lamsam temporarily had to cease her schoolwork after Form 5. She resumed her studies this academic year.
"Now, I swim about eight to nine sessions a week. Nearly half of my time is spent on sports-related activities.
"Fortunately, I manage to finish my homework quickly. I grab every minute I have to do my homework, even during lunch time and on weekends. I can manage sports and schoolwork simultaneously, and I do not feel that swimming has adversely affected my schoolwork so far," said she.
Not every young athlete shares Miss Lamsam views, however.
Mr. Yau Kwun-yuen, 18, and Miss Wut Fung-yin, 16, are both fourth-formers at the Jockey Club Ti-I College. In athletic gear they represent Hong Kong in badminton and gymnastics, respectively.
Like Miss Lamsam, they also have to go through gruelling practice sessions. Both of them have to train for three to four hours after school, five days a week.
Both Mr. Yau and Miss Wut conceded that sports inevitably affects their schoolwork to a certain extent. But they said they consider it worthwhile to continue their training.
Said Mr. Yau: "My objective of playing with the world's best motivates me to continue my training, forthis is a wish I hope I can fulfil soon. Although my academic results might have suffered a little bit, I am still satisfied with them now."
What worries Mr. Yau more, it seems, are his results on the courts.
"I did think of giving up training for almost half a year because I sometimes fail to produce good results in competition. Fortunately, my family encouraged me to continue.
"Indeed, overseas competitions widened my horizon and I learnt how to deal with different kinds of people," he said.
Gymnast Miss Wut echoed Mr. Yau's sentiments.
"Every time I hurt myself during training, my family would ask me to call it a day. But actually they let me decide whether or not to carry on," she said.
"Despite all the injuries I sustained during training, sports does more good than harm to me, because I managed to learn one more skill. Besides, participating in international competitions enables me to see more and make more friends," she said.
Mr. Yau and Miss Wut will have to sit for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination next year. They said they will spend more time on their academicwork next yearand will try their best to get good grades.
In Hong Kong, a place where examination grades reign supreme over almost everything else, it is not unusual for young athletes to find themselves torn between their books and a warmup suit.
Miss Esther Chan Yim Mei, head of the Physical Education Department at Jockey Club Ti-I College, said although studies are important for students, the pursuit of one's dreams is also a very important thing for athletes.
Miss Chan said, "Everyone aims for something different. Some people may strive for academic achievement while some may aim at making their mark on the athletic field.
"There is a misconception that only those who are not good at schoolwork participate in intensive sports training. The misconception is understandable, but untrue.
"Everyone has different talents and potentials. Our school aims at stretching students' different potentials, with the basic aim of implanting students with qualified academic knowledge. Personally, I think young athletes learn more because they have the opportunity to learn what is not normally obtainable through books.
"Nevertheless, being an athlete is a double-edged sword_ because students will not have enough time to concentrate on their academic work."
Miss Chan agreed that Hong Kong has not been a place that keenly embraces sports as something worthwhile.
"Very few schools in Hong Kong consider students' achievements in physical education or sports. In the United States, many universities give support and subsidies to students who are outstanding athletes," Miss Chan said.
Miss Lamsam agreed that support from the school authorities is very important to her life as a swimmer.
"Some friends told me that their schools emphasized so much academic work that they could not concentrate on swimming. Mine is really really good, for they allowed me to defer my matriculation course for a year because of the buildup to the Asian Games last year.
"My school also understands my frequent needs to go abroad for international competitions."
Miss Lamsam also treasures the support from her family and friends.
"My family also helps me a lot. My mother always goes with me here and there. Every time I have to go to overseas competitions, all my family members accompany me. They helped me a lot in the sense that they become a wall of support behind me.
"Besides, my friends always take notes (in classes) for me while I'm away. I can have the achievement I have now because of the support from my family, school and friends.
"During years of training and participation in international competitions, I learned to see things with an open mind and to tackle problems with a positive attitude. The tension I have to bear from the competitions also toughened me up mentally and increased my determination.
"Besides, I have really gotten to know myself and I became more mature. All the experiences I have are valuable and useful for my everyday life," she said.
Miss Chan of Ti-I College said no matter how intensive her training might be, this is only one of several things in her life as an athlete.
"The intensive training is only an episode in the young sportsperson's life. The young athlete can find something that is unrelated to sports in their careers in the future. Actually, the intensive training now equips them with one more skill, thus widening their choices of occupations in the future."
Mr. Martin C.Y. Lam, associate director for technical services of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, said the institute wants to widen the scope and ability of athletes, because the career span of an athlete is quite short.
"The institute's efforts fall into two parts. One is counselling in schoolwork. The other is vocational training. We employ tutors for our athletes. For those studying in higher forms and who have to sit for open examinations such as the Certificate Examinations or the A-levels, we will help them in preparing for examinations and dealing with the pressure.
"We also find some schools for those whose academic results are not good enough to continue their studies elsewhere and offer scholarships for athletes."