HK Celebrates Cheung Ka-long's Historic Gold Medal

The champagne was out across the city on Monday evening as Hongkongers celebrated Cheung Ka-long’s remarkable victory in the final of the men’s individual foil at the Tokyo Olympics.

Cheung’s win ended Hong Kong’s 25-year-long wait for an Olympic gold medal, after Lee Lai-shan’s windsurfing gold in Atlanta in 1996.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam led the plaudits, congratulating Cheung for his calmness and composure, saying he had made citizens proud.

His victory was watched by hundreds of people who had gathered in malls across the city to watch live broadcasts.

“We are so happy that our homegrown athlete can earn Hong Kong a gold medal. We congratulate Cheung Ka-long for his achievement, and thank you to his team and his coach,” said Ms Mok, who joined hundreds of others at the apm shopping mall to watch the final.

“We hope that other Hong Kong athletes can enjoy the rest of the Games, and no matter whether they can get any medals or not we Hongkongers support all of them,” she added.

People started filing into the shopping mall in the hour ahead of the final – some seemingly on a whim, after hearing that Hong Kong was on the verge of claiming a historic medal.

“I just got off work in Kwun Tong, I usually go to the gym but I saw one of the Hong Kong athletes had got to the finals in the Olympics,” said Aaron, who came to the mall with three of his friends. “That makes me feel so great, and makes me want to watch the final with all the Hong Kong people.”

Ms Lui, a personal trainer, said it was an opportunity to “cheer us up”.

“Because of Covid and the social environment, the atmosphere, we cannot just gather around. So I think this is something that could cheer us up at the moment,” she said.

To celebrate Cheung's victory, the MTR has announced that the fencer could now take unlimited free rides. All other SAR athletes who competed in the Tokyo Olympics will get a year of free trips.

Bus operator KMB also said Hong Kong athletes who competed in Tokyo will get free rides for a year.

Last updated: 2021-07-27 HKT 00:10