Published on : 26/07/2024
On July 26, 2021, Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka Long (張家朗) defeated the defending Italian champion Daniele Garozzo in the men's foil individual final at the Tokyo Olympics, winning the second Olympic gold medal in Hong Kong's history with a score of 15:11.
By winning this gold, Cheung Ka Long becomes the second Olympic gold medallist from Hong Kong, following the windsurfing queen Lee Lai Shan (李麗珊) who won the first gold ever in Hong Kong history in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Besides, the gold medal won by Cheung Ka Long in 2021 is also the first one of Hong Kong since its returning back to motherland.
In the final match, Cheung Ka Long took the lead by scoring the first point, but Garozzo won four points in succession in an attempt to widen the gap.
Fortunately, Cheung Ka Long staunchly fought back with five consecutive points, turning the tide to a 6:5 lead. Although Garozzo suffered a thigh injury halfway through the match and the game was paused for several minutes, Cheung Ka Long maintained his lead after the game resumed, eventually defeating his opponent with 15:11.
Cheung later admitted in an interview that he never expected to win. However, when he was losing, he realised that there was no point in retreating and he decided to seize the initiative.
He also expressed his gratitude to his family and two coaches for their support, and encouraged Hong Kong residents to "persist and don't give up too easily".
