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Paul McNamara

Vivian Kong Man-wai has told her closest friends to “keep me in check” if they suspect Hong Kong’s newest Olympic star is getting too big for her boots.
The chances of Paris épée gold medallist Kong – widely regarded as among the most grounded people you will encounter – developing an inflated ego are next to zero.
The 30-year-old vowed to sink a generous portion of her HK$6 million (US$768,000) bounty from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) into launching a charity. The rest of the cash, which HKJC is handing out to gold medallists from the city, will be spent on “presents for my friends, family and coaches”.
“It is better than the lai see,” Kong joked.
Kong had slept only “two-to-three hours” on each of the two nights after she roared back from 7-1 down to stun home fighter Auriane Mallo 13-12 in a classic final on the Grand Palais piste.
Talking at Monday’s Champions Parade in the iconic Trocadero Gardens in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, Kong revealed she had devoted the previous 48 hours to her friends who had travelled from Hong Kong to cheer her on.

“They are my two best friends from school and I owe them so much,” Kong said.
“Because I am so focused on fencing, I’m a really bad friend. I always miss birthdays, I don’t go out because I’m always training, but they’re still my best friends, and they support me no matter what.
“I showed them the Olympic Village on Sunday and this is the first time I can be a better friend.”
Despite her confessed flaw, some fans back in Hong Kong have claimed Kong is the “perfect” person. “That is because you guys [media] make me sound better than I am,” she said.
“I know I’ve been a horrible friend. A horrible daughter, too, even though I try to make my mum happy. I have to put fencing first.”
Kong insisted she felt “no different” as a person, after becoming an Olympic champion, and is already implementing measures to keep it that way.
“I told my two best friends today that they have to keep me in check – I have to be the same and I can’t change,” Kong said.
“I don’t want to start being, ‘I’m so good.’ They know me best, so they’ll watch me.”
The name Vivian Kong led Google searches in Hong Kong following her spectacular Games triumph.
Asked how she would describe herself to those hunting information, she said: “I’m so awkward and embarrassing, but everyone’s been so kind. I keep receiving messages and it feels unreal.”




Kong’s phone is continually “running out of battery” under the weight of congratulatory notes. “I’ve had to turn off my notifications,” she said.
Among the well wishers was John Lee Ka-chiu, the leader of Hong Kong, who video-called Kong from the airport on his way to rounds of business talks in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
“I was so awkward, but he was really kind,” Kong said. “He paid me so many compliments and said he was really proud of me and the team.”
Kong said the first thing she asked herself after waking from her short sleep on Sunday morning was: “Did I still win?”
After reassuring herself the answer was “yes”, Kong immediately turned her attention to how she could use her newly elevated platform for the greater good.
“I want to start a non-profit organisation, but I need to think how it will look,” she said. “I didn’t want to think about it too much before the Olympics, but now I can, so I am really excited.”
Initial ideas for Kong’s charity focus around helping underprivileged children and providing youngsters with sporting opportunities.
“Most of us love sports when we’re younger, but as we get older, we have to study and start to think sport isn’t so important,” Kong said.
“I would sometimes skip PE in school, because I thought I had fencing anyway. But PE is fun and I hope, because of these Olympics, more kids in Hong Kong enjoy sports. Sport is so important. You learn so many lessons from winning and losing.”
Join our sports quiz this Friday to win flights, staycation packages, dining vouchers and much more. Learn more: sc.mp/sports-quiz


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Vivian Kong wants closest friends to stop her getting too big for her boots

Team Hong Kong gold medallist Vivian Kong has told her two best friends, who had come to support her in Paris, “that they have to keep me in check”. Photo: Getty Images

Kong delivered one of the comebacks of any Olympics to topple home favourite Auriane Mallo. Photo: Xinhua

‘Hong Kong spirit’ of Vivian Kong, Cheung Ka-long in Paris praised on Chinese social media

Cheung Ka-long’s ‘Hong Kong spirit’ praised by social media users in mainland China after gold medal success at Paris Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters

Vivian Long had secured gold in the women’s épée event just two days before Cheung Ka-long’s triumph. Photo: AP

Paris Olympics: rugby sevens ref Craig Chan warmed up for debut by roaring on Vivian Kong

Hong Kong referee Craig Chan made his Olympics debut in the women’s rugby sevens match between Canada and Fiji on Sunday. Photo: World Rugby

Hong Kong’s Vivian Kong (right) came from 1-7 down to beat France’s Auriane Mallo-Breton for the gold. Photo: Reuters

Chan watched the fencing final with his partner, Hong Kong rugby star Chong Ka-yan. Photo: Eugene Lee

Former Hong Kong player Florence Symonds (left) in action for Canada in their 17-14 win over Fiji. Photo: Reuters

Is gold medallist Vivian Kong ‘the perfect Hong Kong girl’?

Vivian Kong in Paris. She studied international relations at Stanford University in the US, and law at Renmin University of China and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Xinhua 

Vivian Kong at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in May. Photo: Elson Li

Vivian Kong with her gold medal at the Paris Games. Photo: Getty Images

Vivian Kong at a charity auction event in 2021. Photo: Dickson Lee

Paris Olympics: Vivian Kong’s historic gold sparks day of celebration in Hong Kong

Vivian Kong said she drew on the “Hong Kong spirit” to bring home her Olympic gold. Photo: SF&OC

Vivian Kong’s stunning triumph draws a crowd even at 4am at Olympian City in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: Edmond So

Chief Executive John Lee speaks at Hong Kong airport on Sunday before his Asean trip. Photo: Edmond So

People watch Siobhan Haughey swim at the Olympic display outside Sogo in Causeway Bay. Photo: Edmond So

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Fencing

Hong Kong

The 30-year-old gold medallist will sink bulk of her HK$6m reward into a charity, with the rest on presents for friends, family and coaches


The 30-year-old gold medallist vows to sink a generous portion of her HK$6m reward into launching a charity, with the rest to be spent on presents for friends, family and coaches
