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Cheung Ka-long received a historic gold medal for Hong Kong in males’s particular person foil at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on Monday—the town’s first gold after 25 years and the first-ever medal in fencing. Learn on for every part it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the Hong Kong athlete.
Hong Kong fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long‘s triumph on the Tokyo Olympics 2020 is historic. Beating the defending champion Daniele Garozzo of Group Italy within the males’s particular person foil last on Monday (July 26), the athlete’s win not solely ended Hong Kong’s 25-year-wait for an Olympic gold medal, after Lee Lai-shan’s windsurfing gold in Atlanta in 1996, but additionally marked the town’s first medal in fencing and the fourth medal in historical past.
“I’m extraordinarily completely satisfied to obtain the gold medal. It doesn’t really feel actual. It’s like a dream for me,” the 24-year-old mentioned, who was ranked 19th on the planet going into the Tokyo Video games. “After profitable, I advised myself, I can’t get complacent. I’ll proceed to work laborious to deliver glory to Hong Kong. I actually hope that we are able to win one other medal for the town within the upcoming males’s foil staff occasion.”
Cheung’s success has sparked waves of joyful cheers amongst Hongkongers, with numerous socialites and celebrities sending him congratulatory messages and blessings—however our hometown hero isn’t any stranger to awards or recognition within the fencing world. Right here, we’re itemizing 5 issues it is best to know in regards to the newly topped Tokyo 2020 Olympic fencing champion, Cheung Ka-long.
See additionally: Hong Kong Fencer Cheung Ka-long Makes History With Olympic Gold Medal
The pursuit for greatness in sports activities runs in Cheung’s blood. Born into an athletic household, he had inherited abilities from his mother and father, who each performed nationwide league basketball in China and Hong Kong. Cheung’s dad was initially hoping to coach his son to be a basketball star when he was younger, however he quickly found Cheung’s ardour for fencing after taking him to a lesson. Because of his laborious work and help from the household, Cheung was capable of acquire publicity to giant competitions, incomes various athletic achievements at a really younger age.
See additionally: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Hong Kong Athletes You Should Know
Cheung was finding out at elite faculties together with Ying Wa Faculty and Lam Tai Fai Faculty earlier than turning into a full-time athlete. When he was at Type four, at simply 15 years outdated, he participated within the 2014 Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Amman, Jordan, with the Hong Kong Fencing Group, and even secured some historic achievements, together with gold medals in particular person and staff foil, in each junior and cadet classes.
After finishing the Championships, Cheung determined to stop his research to solely concentrate on taking part in fencing, getting ready himself for an athletic profession.
At the moment ranked quantity 19th on the planet, Cheung is predicted to obtain a career-high rating after his win on the Tokyo Video games. However previous to profitable the Olympic gold medal, Cheung is already a prime Hong Kong fencer who has been recognised for his expertise and dedication. Along with the above-mentioned awards on the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Amman, the fencing expertise additionally received a bronze medal in staff foil on the 2014 Icheon Asian Video games, a silver medal and bronze medal in staff foil and particular person foil respectively on the 2018 Jarkata Asian Video games.
He additionally received a gold medal in particular person foil on the 2016 Asian Fencing Championships and was even named Hong Kong’s Most Promising Athlete on the Hong Kong Sports activities Stars Awards ceremony in 2016. At the moment, he was solely 18 years outdated.
Within the final Video games in Rio 2016, Cheung completed 11th within the spherical of 16. Though he didn’t make it to the ultimate, he already made historical past to be the primary fencing athlete from Hong Kong to enter the second spherical in Olympics.
See additionally: Hong Kong Swimmer Siobhan Haughey Wins Historic Olympic Silver Medal
Cheung was chosen to be a flag bearer for Group Hong Kong on the Tokyo Video games together with badminton participant Tse Ying-suet, main the opposite Hong Kong athletes into the opening ceremony. And if you happen to missed the ceremony, take a look at our article about the most effective moments of the night time here.
Cheung loves cats virtually as a lot as he loves fencing, as made evident in his photographs shared on his Instagram account (@cheungkalongggg). The Cheung household has a ferret and 4 cats—three of them are an American shorthair and one other one is a Ragdoll. Amongst them, the athlete’s favorite one is undoubtedly Zimba, the place he steadily posts photos and brief clips of the fluffy two-year-old American shorthair, and even created a Tales Highlights devoted to the cat.
See additionally: Tatler Talks With Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong’s Silver Medal Olympic Swimmer
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