In a society where academic achievement and climbing career ladders often trump sporting ambitions, Chao Man Hou has risen as one of Macao’s rare professional athletes. Local media dubbed him the ‘King of Breaststroke’ or, occasionally, the ‘Frog King’ (a nod to breaststroke’s Chinese name, frog-style). As such, it may come as a surprise to learn that the international competitor started out with an aversion to swimming.
Chao, 29, vividly recalls his first trips to the pool. “I didn’t even want to get out of the car,” he shares with Macao magazine. Swimming lessons were not a choice but a chore for the then-6-year-old, and strictly enforced by his mother. She insisted that he practice the sport because she’d seen the benefits it had brought his older brother – already on their school’s swim team. At the time, Chao says he’d have “rather sat at home and watched television.”
Just two years later, Chao joined his brother on the swim team, where his potential was quickly recognised by coaches. All of a sudden, that initial reluctance gave way to genuine interest. “When I started competing and saw my progress, I became much more motivated,” he says. While his brother still swims recreationally, it was Chao who went on to represent Macao in countries as far flung as Australia, Hungary, Indonesia and the UAE.
Chao collected many regional swimming medals as a high schooler, including at the 2013 Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and even competed abroad several times. In 2014, for example, he had the huge honour of being Macao’s flag bearer at that year’s Asian Games opening ceremony in Incheon, South Korea.
Despite all the success, it wasn’t until Chao was at university that the idea of becoming a full-time athlete took shape. “I took a semester off during my first year at university to train seriously,” he says. “And that’s when I realised I could give full-time swimming a try.” Even then, the turning point didn’t come until 2019, when Chao was in the midst of studying for his masters in physical education and sports studies at the University of Macau. He turned pro, competing full-time while completing his masters on the side. Chao graduated in 2022 and hasn’t looked back.
Rivals and records
Among Chao’s many career highlights was travelling to Australia to represent Macao at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships. There, he advanced to the semi-finals and placed 16th overall in the men’s 50 metre breaststroke out of 61 entries from around the globe.
“It was a world-class competition, and making it that far made me feel like a real athlete,” he shares.
The competition took place during a year of intensive training in the US, where Chao was working with the Irvine Novaquatics swim team in Irvine, California.
In 2023, Chao set a new record for Macao in the men’s 100m breaststroke while competing at the 31st FISU World University Games (formerly known as the Universiade) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It was by almost a full second, a solid improvement in the swimming world: his time of 1:01.98 beat the 1.02.91 record set nine years prior. Chao remains the quickest swimmer in Macao over this distance.
While injuries have cropped up along the way, Chao describes himself as a strong advocate for the “no pain, no gain” mentality.
Overcoming local challenges
Chao’s achievements are especially noteworthy given Macao’s relatively small sporting landscape: local swimming athletes have fewer training facilities and limited access to pool time compared to those in larger regions. But the city’s close-knit sports community sees strong bonds forged between athletes and coaches who mentor rising talent, often without pay. Their commitment stems from passion, says Chao.
Another local challenge is that sports in Macao are traditionally seen more as hobbies than professions. There’s not quite the same level of competitiveness as is found in neighbouring Hong Kong, for example. But Chao believes there’s growing recognition of the value of high-performance athletics – of the discipline it demands and the glory it can bring.
He is quick to express appreciation for support provided by the Macao Special Administrative Region’s government, particularly in facilitating training opportunities and covering travel expenses for competitions. “I’ve never had to pay when representing Macao,” he states. This financial backing has been instrumental in helping Chao and others like him pursue excellence on the global stage.
Confidence is key
Now focused on the upcoming National Games in November, Chao trains up to 10 times per week – combining swimming sessions with strength training and physiotherapy. He also recently spent a month honing his breaststroke technique back in Irvine. Managing pressure has become second nature, he says: “Before races, I listen to music and zero in on my technique and strategy.”
There are several swimming greats Chao looks to for inspiration. The Japanese Olympian Kosuke Kitajima, who also specialises in breaststroke, was a double gold medalist at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. Then there’s the most decorated Olympian of all time: Michael Phelps, who won a total of 28 medals for the US over his lengthy career (23 of them were gold). Chao says he still finds himself watching videos of Phelps’ famous swims when seeking motivation.
Asked to reflect on the most meaningful moments of his own journey, Chao points to breakthroughs: getting into a final, earning a new personal best, breaking a record. “It’s those achievements that make me understand I can compete at a higher level and represent Macao well,” he says, adding that he views these moments as proof that hard work pays off.
As for what lies beyond competitive swimming, Chao aims to become a certified coach. Whether he remains in Macao or explores opportunities abroad, his goal is to give back to the sport and inspire the next generation of swimmers. Chao’s advice for aspiring young athletes in Macao is simple: Be confident. “Many don’t believe they can win, but confidence is key to improvement,” he affirms.
To the mother who once had to drag him to practice, he has just one thing to say: “Thank you. If you hadn’t pushed me, I might never have found my passion.”
Macao is Co-Hosting the 15th National Games
The National Games is the country’s largest and highest-level multi-sport event, organised every four years by the General Administration of Sport. The 15th edition will take place from 9 to 21 November 2025 in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao (China’s Greater Bay Area), bringing together elite athletes from across China to compete for top honours.
Representatives from Macao, including Chao Man Hou, are confirmed to be taking part in 19 of the Games’ 32 competitive events: athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, football, golf, handball, judo, martial arts, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon and volleyball.
Macao entrants will also take part in 12 of the 23 mass participation events. These are bowling, Chinese chess, dragon and lion dance, dragon boat racing, football, gate ball, go (weiqi), health qigong, karate, model aircraft, orienteering and shuttlecock.
The opening and closing ceremonies of this year’s National Games will be held in the Guangdong cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, respectively.
