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Lo Hoi-ying

Willa Wu

Gold medal-winning Hong Kong épéeist Vivian Kong Man-wai is taking a break from professional fencing after the Paris Games to focus on a new career, with fans and officials wishing her well for the next chapter.
The city’s No 2 official, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, said it was a pity to see Kong step away from the sport but he hoped she would take up coaching to pass on her experience and provide guidance to local fencing talent.
The 30-year-old fencing queen announced her decision on Instagram and Facebook on Sunday after competing in her third Olympic Games.
Kong made history in Paris by becoming the first woman from the city to win fencing gold, and her triumph was followed 48 hours later by Cheung Ka-long’s successful defence of his foil title.
“I’m so grateful to have had the chance to dedicate almost 20 years of my life to fencing and thank you for being a part of this journey,” she wrote.
“After competing in my third Olympics, I have decided to take a break from professional fencing. I want to learn, grow, and give back to Hong Kong to the best of my abilities.
“I look forward to starting a new career and working towards having my own charity to help kids find joy and [put] playfulness back into sports.”
She thanked her “fencing family” for giving her the chance to dedicate almost 20 years of her life to the sport.
“I will miss my fencing family so, so much, but once a fencer, always a fencer!”
Chief Secretary Chan said he respected Kong’s decision.
“Athletes, when reaching a certain stage of their career, have their own plans. I hope she will pass down her skills and experience to the next generation of fencing talent,” he added.
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, hailed the move as “a wise decision”.
“I am sure Vivian will continue to do well in her next journey, and I wish her all the very best in her future endeavours,” she wrote on her account on X, formerly known as Twitter.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Vivian Kong 江旻憓 (@vmwkong)



Head fencing coach Zheng Kangzhao also said he was sorry to see the gold medallist step away from the sport, but he respected her choice, which he believed had been made after lengthy consideration and discussion with family members.
“She now reaches the peak of her fencing career by bagging the Olympic gold medal. Her achievements are something too far to catch for many. But anyway, she has her personal planning and I respect that,” he said.
Kong has disabled comments under the post announcing her break on Instagram, but fans still flocked to her Facebook post, which had attracted more than 1,200 messages by 5.30pm.
Among the comments was one from lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong, who said Kong would be successful in whatever she chose to pursue next.
“We certainly hope to see you fencing for us again. The only thing that’s for sure is that you are a star and will shine wherever you go. Forever [in] support,” he said.
Another commenter, Kelvin Yu, thanked the star athlete for her contribution to the sport over the past 20 years and said he wished she would continue to shine in other fields.
“Hong Kong needs you. The next generation also needs you,” he wrote.
Ernest Loong, another social media user, said: “Follow your heart and have no regrets! While there may be reluctance to say goodbye, I respect and support you.”
Lobo Louie Hung-tak, a senior lecturer of health and physical education at the Education University of Hong Kong, said he respected Kong’s decision given she had previously undergone two operations on her knees.
But he brushed aside concerns that her retirement would do any substantial harm to the development of fencing as a sport in the city.
“A sport’s development does not rely on only one athlete. It depends on whether we have built a pyramid that suffices to produce more talent. And I think Hong Kong’s current system in fencing is capable of doing so,” he said.


Louie also cited 19-year-old foilist Daphne Chan Nok-sze, who bowed out in the round of 16 of the Games’ fencing contest, as one to watch.
Professor Patrick Yung Shu-hang of Chinese University’s medical school, who operated on Kong’s torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2017 and 2019, said he did not think her call to step away from the sport was related to her injury history.
“I think in the future Vivian can continue to play a role in promoting mass participation in sports and cultivate positive thinking among youngsters, as she has always done a lot in these two aspects,” he said.
Hong Kong Fencing Association chairman Yeung Wing-sun said his group had no comment on Kong’s decision, but believed she would not completely disappear from the scene.
“As she said ‘a fencer will always be a fencer’, her retirement from full-time fencing does not mean she will not fence again,” he said, noting that many part-time or retired fencers had taken part in local and international tournaments.
Kong previously told the Post she would weigh up her fencing future after the games and revealed she planned to dedicate a large part of the HK$6 million (US$768,000) award from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to establish a non-profit organisation.


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Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Fencing

Hong Kong

The Buzz

Vivian Kong posts message to social media announcing decision to focus on other areas, thanks ‘fencing family’ for support


Vivian Kong posts message to social media announcing decision to focus on other areas, thanks ‘fencing family’ for support.


Hong Kong sports

Vivian Kong Man-wai (江旻憓)

Education University of Hong Kong