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Paul McNamara

Coco Lin Yik-hei has targeted a redemptive Los Angeles Olympics campaign after reconnecting with her own “character” on the piste.
The epeeist planned to quit after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but a first-round exit left her with “some regrets and wanting to do more”.
The 29-year-old missed Paris 2024 qualification and was in the TVB commentary booth when teammate and friend Vivian Kong Man-wai claimed a thrilling epee gold.
Lin, who will compete in this weekend’s Hong Kong Open, said there was “no pressure” on her, or her compatriots, to emulate Kong’s success in four years’ time.
“We have all accepted Vivian is so different,” Lin said. “Seeing a teammate reach that level adds to your motivation, though, and we feel there’s a lot we can do.

“The main goal is to qualify as a team [Hong Kong’s female epeeists did not reach Paris]. I feel Kaylin [Hsieh Sin-yan] is our strongest [performer], right now. I am the oldest and most experienced, and I think my presence glues the team together.”
In 2015, Lin was Asian individual under-23 champion and shortly after, Octavian Zidaru, the mastermind behind Kong’s Paris triumph, was appointed head coach of Hong Kong’s female epee team.
“He is a fencing guru and I have learned so much from him technique-wise,” Lin said.
“It’s been a difficult journey for me, though … my fencing style changed to fit his way. Everyone has their own character and I lost that for a while.
“Now, I treasure the feelings I had from when I was younger, and incorporate some of the movements I learned from Tavi. My style is footwork heavy, I am short, so I have to be agile. His focus is on the hands.”
The first of Lin’s two successive Asian Games team bronze medals, in 2014, alerted tutors at The University of Hong Kong, where she gained a landscape architecture degree, to the seriousness of their occasionally-absent student’s fencing.
“They saw me on the news and realised I wasn’t just skipping school,” she said.
Lin’s parents buried doubts about their daughter committing to fencing professionally when she agreed to complete her degree in the standard four-year timeframe. Her brother, Charles, is a professional musician.
“Our parents expected us to be in finance, or banking,” said Lin, who played saxophone and clarinet “until fencing took over”.

“I think more parents are beginning to realise athletes can be smart and look sharp,” Lin added.
“[Tokyo and Paris Olympic champion] Cheung Ka-long trained professionally from 16. Thank you, Vivian, thank you, Ka-long [for changing Hongkongers’ perceptions around sport as a career].”
After Cheung’s Tokyo gold, Lin was aware of “so many people watching and noticing my results”. The increased attention was, inevitably, accompanied by social media criticism.
“It’s sad to see those comments from strangers, I used to let them get into my head,” Lin said. “They don’t get to me anymore. Trying my best is the most important thing.
“Previously, nerves got in the way of my performance. Now, I am much calmer, I react rationally, not emotionally.”
The Hong Kong fencing boom has led to Lin duelling with much younger compatriots who already boast significant competitive and training experience.
She joked about being “super-conflicted” over the growing competition, but acknowledged it was both “pushing me … and good for the sport’s development in Hong Kong”.
“We used to train with younger boys, from this year, we can train with the younger girls, because of their stamina and ability” said Lin, who is undecided over whether to continue post-LA. She noted, however, that 44-year-old Irina Embrich won this year’s European Championships epee title.
After needing around three months to “accept” she would not fence in Paris, Lin felt a “responsibility” to promote epee during her commentary stints.
“Everyone in Hong Kong knew about fencing, but mainly the men’s foil,” she said. “My fencing improved afterwards, [on TV] I had to be analytical and use a different part of my brain.”


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Hong Kong Sports Institute

Fencer Lin aiming for LA Olympics redemption, as Hong Kong seeks Vivian Kong successor

Lin takes time out to savour the Olympic experience before competing in Tokyo.

Lin studies her weapon while competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Coco Lin Yik-hei (second left) with her team bronze medal from this year’s Asian Championships in Kuwait.

Kaylin Hsieh will fill Vivian Kong’s shoes as Hong Kong’s top epeeist: fencing head coach

Kaylin Hsieh arrives back in  Hong Kong after the successful World University Games in Chengdu last year. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s top female fencers (from left): Moonie Chu, Kaylin Hsieh, Vivian Kong and Coco Lin. 

Kaylin Hsieh has won several medals, including gold at the World University Games, before turning 21. Photo: Handout

Cheung Ka-long aims for Olympic gold again at Los Angeles 2028 – but a world title first

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long celebrates winning his second Olympic gold, in Paris. Photo: AP

Hong Kong coach Greg Koenig (left) hopes to guide Cheung Ka-long to another gold medal at Los Angeles 2028. Photo: Handout

Greg Koenig says he has been working on his psychology skills since his competitive days. Photo: Mike Chan

Fencer Cheung Ka-long will decide plans for next Olympics by June, coach Greg Koenig says

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka long celebrates after winning the individual foil final against Italy’s Filippo Macchi at the Paris Olympics in July. Photo: AP

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long (right) with his coach Greg Koenig.

Koenig says Cheung sometimes finds it hard to be in the city, as he is easily recognised. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong Olympic heroes presented with US$2.3 million in cash rewards at Sha Tin race day

Medallists (from left) Vivian Kong, Cheung Ka-long and Siobhan Haughey attend the cheque presentation ceremony at Sha Tin Racecourse. Photo: May Tse

Athletes and officials pose at the cheque presentation ceremony at Sha Tin Racecourse. Photo: May Tse

Cheung Ka-long, holding the Hong Kong flag, leads athletes into the ceremony. Photo: May Tse

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Fencing

Two-times Asian Games bronze medallist Coco Lin will compete in this weekend’s Hong Kong Open, after summer commentating on Paris Olympics


Two-times Asian Games bronze medallist Coco Lin will compete in this weekend’s Hong Kong Open, after summer commentating on Paris Olympics.
