Tokyo Olympics: Hong Kong pride for Sarah Lee’s bronze and best-ever Games medal haul

Hundreds of supporters gather at the APM mall in Kwun Tong to cheer on Sarah Lee as she beats Germany’s Emma Hinze in the women’s sprint bronze medal clash

Hong Kong has completed its best-ever Olympics with six medals – one gold, two silver and three bronze – for a total of nine since the city’s debut in 1952

Reading Time:3 minutes

Hong Kong fans at the APM mall in Kwun Tong watch Sarah Lee Wai-sze compete in the women’s sprint, eventually winning bronze. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 3:17pm, 8 Aug 2021Updated: 3:26pm, 8 Aug 2021

Hundreds of Hongkongers gathered at Kwun Tong’s APM mall on Sunday morning to witness track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze add to her Olympic legacy. Armed with cheer sticks and banners, an anxious crowd watched as the cyclist became the first Hong Kong athlete to win medals in more than one Olympic Games.

The 34-year-old Lee won bronze in the women’s sprint on Sunday at the Izu Velodrome to go with her bronze in the keirin from the 2012 London Olympics.

It was a nerve-racking series of races for Lee on Sunday morning as spectators fixed their gazes on the large TV screens for her semi-final and bronze medal races. The live broadcast attracted about 200 fans to the APM mall.

Cherry Cheung, 34, was passing by the mall when she decided to make a pit stop to watch the action. “I am happy for Lee, she does deserve it after so many years of hard work,” the HR manager said.

Sarah Lee screams in joy after winning Olympic bronze in the women’s track cycling sprint event. Photo: Xinhua

In race one of the semi-final, Lee lost to Ukraine’s Olena Strakovia, to the dismay of spectators who clapped their cheer sticks frantically. “It is only the first round, so I am still hopeful,” said Anna Chan, a 30-year-old teacher.