Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong wins gold on first day of Paris 2024 Olympics
Hong Kong Free Press
Fencer Vivian Kong has won gold in the women’s individual épée, taking team Hong Kong to the podium on the first day of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
World number one Kong, 30, came from behind against home-crowd favourite Auriane Mallo-Breton of France to win 13-12, becoming only the third Hongkonger in history to clinch Olympic gold. She follows in the footsteps of windsurfer Lee Lai-shan in 1996 and fellow fencer Edgar Cheung in 2021.
Among those watching from the stands in the Grand Palais in the centre of Paris was French President Emanuel Macron.
Speaking to the media after her triumph, Kong cried tears of joy. She thanked fans in Hong Kong, where because of a six-hour time difference the final was in the early hours of Sunday, for staying up.
“I’m really thankful, I’m really grateful,” Kong said. “I’m just so lucky… in fencing anything can happen, and I love all the girls here, and I just can’t believe it’s me.”
The city’s leader John Lee congratulated Kong on her historic achievement, writing on Facebook: “I and the Hong Kong people are very excited and proud.”
Kong defeated Hadley Husisian of the US 15-12 to reach the top eight. From there, she saw off the Ukraine’s Olena Kryvytska 15-7 to advance to the semis, where she beat Nelli Differt from Estonia 15-11.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed because of Covid-19 and took place largely without crowds, three-time Asian champion Kong reached the quarterfinals.
The first day of the Paris Games also saw Hong Kong table tennis pair Doo Hoi-kem and Wong Chun-ting advance to the final eight in mixed doubles. They face Maria Xiao and Alvaro Robles from Spain on Sunday. Also competing for the city on Sunday is rower Chiu Hin-chun, who will try for repechage after missing out on qualifying for the men’s single sculls on Saturday.
Badminton duo Tse Ying-suet and Jordan Tang won their first match against Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hsin and Ye Hong-wei. The self-governed island competes in the Olympics under the name Chinese Taipei. Tang and Tse next play Arisa Higashino and Yuta Watanabe of Japan, against whom they lost in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics.
Team Hong Kong gymnast Stone Shek and judoka Wong Ka-lee failed to advance in their respective sports on Saturday.
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