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