Scoring a stunning comeback victory, Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai clinched the special administrative region’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, epitomizing the Hong Kong spirit of never giving up.
Her victory marks the second Olympic gold won by fencers of the Hong Kong, China team, and the third gold in the city’s history.
The 30-year-old epee fencer realized her dream in Paris by beating French favorite Auriane Mallo-Breton 13-12 in the women’s epee final on the first day of the competition on Saturday.
Before the home crowd at the Grand Palais, Kong had, at one stage, trailed in the match at 1-7, but managed to catch up and tie the score at 12-12 as the regular competition time expired.
During overtime, she won with the final strike and scored a 13-12 victory, becoming Hong Kong’s second Olympic fencing gold medalist after Edgar Cheung Ka-long’s men’s foil individual gold win in the men’s foil event at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
In an interview after the match, Kong burst into tears. “Finally, I didn’t lose. I’ve lost many times, but today I’ve finally won.”
She said she will carry on with Hong Kong’s “never-give-up” spirit to live up to the city’s expectations and honor the support of her team.
ALSO READ: Kong of HK, China claims historic women's epee individual gold
Kong will receive HK$6 million ($769,000) in prize money under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, as well as a free lifetime travel pass on MTR Corp’s trains.
Property developer Sino Group also announced it will distribute HK$200,000 worth of cash vouchers on Monday to celebrate the achievements of Hong Kong athletes.
For every additional medal won by a Hong Kong athlete, the group will further distribute HK$200,000 worth of cash vouchers without any limit on their number.
Congratulating Kong, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu lauded the athlete’s remarkable perseverance and determination, hailing her as a source of pride for the people of Hong Kong.
He encouraged the Hong Kong, China delegation to continue achieving good results and unleash their potential at the Olympic Games.
Social media platforms in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland were abuzz with fervent discussions and an outpouring of support.
One netizen was overcome with emotion after watching a replay of Kong’s match on Sunday morning, saying her victory was beautifullyexecuted.
She praised Kong’s confidence in facing situations against all odds, and highlighted the lesson of perseverance and overcoming difficulties she has learned from Kong’s win.
Another social media user said that despite having watched numerous matches, the tension during the final epee match was unparalleled. She described Kong as a sincere and kind athlete who had traversed a challenging journey, with all her efforts helping her to make this remarkable accomplishment.
Kong started practicing fencing at the age of 11, and this year’s Paris Games marked her third appearance at the Olympics. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, she advanced to the round of 16, achieving the best result for the Hong Kong, China fencing team. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Kong had experienced two ligament ruptures and undergone surgeries. Her mother has once urged her to retire. However, driven by herremarkable determination, Kong’s efforts eventually paid off.
Besides her achievements in sports, Kong is also recognized as a well-rounded talent excelling in both academics and athletics. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Stanford University in the United States and completed her master’s degree at Renmin University of China. Following the Tokyo Olympics, she embarked on a journey to pursue a law degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
READ MORE: Hong Kong fencers upbeat about Paris Olympics
Over the weekend, Hong Kong athletes have competed in events in Paris, such as table tennis, swimming, fencing, rowing and windsurfing.
The city’s mixed doubles teams in table tennis and badminton secured victories, with the table tennis pair progressing to the semifinals. Rower Chiu Hin-chun advanced to the semifinals, but gymnast Shek Wai-hung failed to make it to the finals.
On Monday, fencer Edgar Cheung and swimming star Siobhan Haughey will compete in the men’s individual foil and women’s 200m freestyle events respectively.
Contact the writers at bingcun@chinadailyhk.com
