Editorial | Hong Kong’s ‘can-do’ spirit on full display as ‘Queen Kong’ conquers Paris
- Fencer seemed down and out in final bout but in the true nature of what this city is all about, she fought back to claim an Olympic gold medal
Star fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai’s historic victory at the Olympic Games in Paris was the most dramatic of wins. The world number one needed to draw on all her reserves of energy, skill and mental strength to stage a thrilling comeback in the épée final and secure a gold medal. It is an extraordinary achievement.
There were high hopes Kong would strike gold. But a nervous start against French fencer Auriane Mallo-Breton, before a partisan home crowd including President Emmanuel Macron, left her trailing 7-1.
It is a testament to her strength of character and belief that she was able to fight back to secure a nail-biting 13-12 win. “I didn’t want to give up without showing the Hong Kong spirit,” she said.
The victory is a landmark for Hong Kong, with the city winning a medal in successive Summer Olympics for the first time. Kong follows in the footsteps of windsurfer Lee Lai-shan and fellow fencer Cheung Ka-long, who won gold in 1996 and 2021, respectively.
Her win has boosted morale in the Hong Kong team. It has also, more broadly, given the city a much-needed lift at a time when it is striving to overcome negative narratives and make its mark on the world stage.
