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Mike Chan

Cheung Ka-long said winning Olympic fencing gold in Paris felt like the first time all over again, and while he had dreamed of the moment, he could not believe it had happened.
The Hongkonger, who has built a reputation for coming back from seemingly lost causes, successfully defended his men’s foil title on Monday night at the Grand Palais, beating Italian Filippo Macchi 15-14 and gaining several distinctions.
His second gold, after the one he claimed at the Tokyo Games three years ago, makes him the only athlete from the city to have won two, and he has become just the third man to successfully defend the Olympic foil title.
He and swimmer Siobhan Haughey, only minutes apart, became the only Hongkongers to have won medals at consecutive Olympics.

“I did think about doing this, but I still can’t believe it,” Cheung said. “My coach [Greg Koenig] is French, so it’s like I won gold in half a home court. I am so happy.
“It still felt like winning my first gold, and I have yet to digest it. My condition before the Games was so-so, but my coach kept talking to me to adjust my mind and it was like a snap when I hit the strips.”
Cheung began his march to glory by sweeping away Canadian Daniel Gu 15-5 in the round of 32, and while the 15-10 win over China’s Mo Ziwei next was slightly more demanding, it was the breathtaking quarter-final bout against France’s Enzo Lefort that set the tone for the rest of the competition.
There was a hint of déjà vu about the encounter, which bore a striking resemblance to the quarter-final in Japan, when Cheung was also one point away from elimination.
Then came the world No 19, and he trailed Kirill Borodachev, of the Russian Olympic Committee, 14-9 before winning six points in a row to advance.
On Monday, in a deafening arena and fencing the French public’s “chouchou” (darling), as Frenchman Koenig put it, the world No 3 was behind for large parts and was 14-12 down at one point, before making a fake lunge to “get to a good position” to land the winning hit.
Nervy moments, including five ties, followed in the semi-final against Kazuki Iimura of Japan, but a 5-1 run got the job done.
But never did the towering, 1.93-metre left-hander suspect that he would need to claw himself back from the edge one last time in the final against Macchi.
Down 14-12, Cheung did the “usual” stuff to tie the bout and make a tense atmosphere worse. If that wasn’t intense enough, three video reviews were needed to split the two on the piste, with both fencers a point from glory.
“I think he liked to play with my heart,” Koenig said. “He knew it was not a good idea if it was too easy. But when it ended like this, I am OK, I will handle my heart.”
Cheung, meanwhile, said he knew he had won after he and his Italian opponent scored near-simultaneous hits for the third time.
“I was so sure about the third hit, though it was the same for me on the first two,” the 27-year-old said. “In a different venue, or with a different referee, things might not be the same, but every fencer thinks the point belonged to them.”
It was two years ago when Cheung committed to another Olympic cycle with Koenig, saying he wanted to “be Olympic champion two, maybe three times”, and the Hongkonger delivered his ambition at the first time of asking.
“I will fight on for sure, looking to create more history,” he said. “The next target should be the world championships, because that’s all I need to complete the grand slam.
“I was still young after Japan, so I never thought about stopping. I knew I could still go for one or two Olympics, I just needed to keep myself motivated.”

Just before last Friday’s opening ceremony on the River Seine, Koenig, who has led Hong Kong’s foilists since 2018, said it could be a “good omen” for his favourite pupil to carry the city’s bauhinia flag again, having done the job in Tokyo too.
Now the Frenchman is not ruling out letting Cheung do it again in Los Angeles in four years.
“If Hong Kong wants him as a flag-bearer and if the competition is minimum three days after the ceremony, I think I will say yes with a big, big, big pleasure,” the two-time Olympic gold medal coach said.
“I knew how proud he was to represent Hong Kong and to be the flag-bearer, so if it could help, maybe it’s maybe better to keep the routine for the gold medal.”
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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Cheung Ka-long ‘can’t believe’ second gold – but may chase a third in 2028

Cheung Ka-long is ecstatic as he clinches gold in Paris. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long is mobbed after defending the Olympic men’s foil crown. Photo: AFP

The now double Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long with his coach Greg Koenig. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong savours Cheung Ka-long gold, Siobhan Haughey bronze at Paris Olympics

Cheung Ka-long receives his Olympic gold medal after winning the men’s foil title in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE

Siobhan Haughey (right) displays her medal beside Mollie O’Callaghan (centre) and Ariarne Titmus. Photo: dpa

Paris Olympics: who is Cheung Ka-long? Stunning rise of Hong Kong’s double gold medallist

Cheung Ka-long offers his trademark tongue-out celebration after winning his Olympic semi-final at the Grand Palais in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE

Cheung Ka-long takes a moment to savour his achievement after retaining his Olympic crown. Photo: EPA-EFE

Victory is assured as Cheung Ka-long (right) celebrates scoring the decisive point in Paris. Photo: EPA-EFE

Filippo Macchi of Italy (left) tries to attack Cheung Ka-long during Monday’s foil final. Photo: EPA-EFE

Paris Olympics: Vivian Kong says ‘Hong Kong spirit’ drove her towards gold medal triumph

Vivian Kong poses with her gold medal after winning the women’s individual epee at the Paris Olympics. Photo: EPA-EFE

Auriane Mallo-Breton (left) and Vivian Kong compete in the final of the women’s epee at the Grand Palais. Photo: Reuters

Vivian Kong (left) celebrates with coach Octavian Zidaru after winning gold in the women’s epee. Photo: AFP

Vivian Kong burst into tears after winning the gold medal. Photo: AFP

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Fencing

Hong Kong

Hong Kong fencer revels in victory with coach Greg Koenig, having set his heart on trying to ‘be Olympic champion two, maybe three times’


Hong Kong fencer revels in victory with coach Greg Koenig, having set his heart on trying to ‘be Olympic champion two, maybe three times’.


Cheung Ka-long

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games