VANCOUVER – UBC Thunderbirds swimmer Hoi Lam Karen Tam is set to take part in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. The opening ceremony of the 18th edition of the games will begin at 5 a.m. PT on Aug. 18. The swimming competition will run Aug. 19 to 24 at the GBK Aquatic Centre in the Indonesian capital.

"I'm so excited to represent Hong Kong and also as a UBC student in these Asian Games," said Tam. "I'll do my best in the games, and most importantly, I want to have fun and enjoy every moment in Jakarta. I'm looking forward to travelling and racing with my Hong Kong teammates, since I haven't seen them for so long. It's a good opportunity for me to gain experience in racing fast swimmers, and I believe that it can help me to become a more mature swimmer in the future."
 

Tam, who just completed her second season as a T-Bird, will swim for Hong Kong in a pair of individual events, the 50-metre freestyle (Aug. 24) and the 100 butterfly on Aug. 21.

At the 2017 Canada West Swimming Championships in Victoria, B.C., Tam won bronze in the 50 fly, 50 free and 100 free races.

She earned a pair of bronze medals at the U SPORTS national meet in Toronto in February, helping UBC to the podium in the 4x100 free and medley relays. The Thunderbirds also claimed the national championship banner for the second straight year.

"It's great to see Hoi Lam (Karen) Tam qualify for the Asian Games this August coming off the World University Games last summer and a very successful varsity season," said UBC head coach Steve Price. "Karen in her third year with the program has improved every season and has taken her preparation to a new level as evident by her results in the pool. We are proud to support her dream of representing her country at these international competitions and think she has a shot at Tokyo 2020 if she remains on the same path. Keep an eye on Karen as her best is yet to come."

Tam will return to UBC after the Asian Games to begin the school year and the university season, which will culminate with the U SPORTS Swimming Championships Feb. 21-23, 2019 at the UBC Aquatic Centre.