Yvette Kong
Originally from Hong Kong, China Yvette Kong is a breaststroke specialist from the University of California, Berkeley. Kong is currently in her senior season as a Cal Bear, and has represented Hong Kong at multiple international competitions. She’s studying Cognitive Science at Cal, and Kong began her senior season ranked on Cal’s Top-10 all time list in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Born Jan. 18, 1993 to parents, Vivian Chu and Stephen Kong, in Toronto, Canada she also spent some time in southern California graduating from Laurel Springs High School in Ojai. She’s won numerous accolades on the international level including being named to the Youth Olympic Team and winning medals at the Asian Games. In the recruiting class of 2011 College Swimming had Kong ranked as one of the top 10 recruits overall. As of Sept. 2014 she held all of Hong Kong’s records in the 100m and 200m breaststroke in both long and short course meters.
UC Berkeley
2011-2012
As a freshman Kong competed at the NCAA Championships where she finished 19th in the 100 breaststroke and 46th in the 200 breaststroke.
2012-2013
Kong followed up a stellar freshman season by placing 16th in the 100 breaststroke at the Pac 12 Championships. She also competed in the 200 breaststroke and IM finishing 25th and 27th.
2013-2014
In her junior season Kong was a member of the 200 medley relay at the Pac 12 Championships, which placed second. She also came in second in the ‘B’ final of the 100 breaststroke as well 7th in the ‘B’ final of the 200 breaststroke.
2014-2015
She started the senior season off by making the all time top-10 list in Cal’s 100 and 200 breaststroke events. She competed at the Pac 12 Championships swimming times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke that would’ve made a consolation final.
International Competition
During the 2009-2010 short-course meter season Kong was ranked 22nd in the world. As of Sept. 14, 2011 she held every Hong Kong women’s long-course and short-course record in the breaststroke events. In addition she holds 13 Hong Kong long and short course records in total.
At the Asian Swimming Championships in 2014 Kong brought home a silver in a relay as well as two bronze medals. At last year’s third Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam, she won five golds and one silver medal. She was a member of the Youth Olympic Team that traveled to the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. In 2010 she was awareded the Zespri Outstanding Junior Athlete Award.