Olympic Rower Advocates for Heart Screenings in Athletes After Notable Cases

An Olympic rower and world-class ironman, Michael Tse still presents in immaculate condition, and there is no evidence to contradict that impression. Still, Tse is acutely aware that looks can be deceiving. In his post heading up the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) Centre for Sports and Exercise, Tse was at the forefront of introducing heart screenings for the institution’s athletes three years ago. Around 10 per cent of those who submitted to the voluntary testing have been recalled for follow-up checks such as ultrasounds, exercise electrocardiograms (ECGs) and magnetic resonance imaging. “Which is quite phenomenal, because these are young 18-to-20-somethings supposedly healthy students,” Tse said. Those athletes who compete in elite spheres are regularly monitored. In Hong Kong, the city’s sports institute annually screens its athletes. High-profile former footballers Oscar, Lucas Leiva and Iker Casillas were all forced into premature retirement following the detection of heart issues. The ex-England cricketer, James Taylor, had to stop playing at 26 after being diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic heart muscle disease. The relative prevalence of undiscovered conditions in amateur athletes is why Tse is not only a staunch advocate for medical examinations, but also very keen that, in the event of a tragedy during an event, neither the organisers nor the sport are demonised.