Hong Kong’s athletes achieved historic success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning two medals in a single night on July 29, 2024. In men’s foil fencing, Cheung Ka Long successfully defended his title in a dramatic final against Italy’s Filippo Macchi. The match, which ended in a sudden-death situation after a tense 14-14 tie, saw Ka Long secure the gold with a decisive final point. This victory marks Ka Long as the third man in history to win back-to-back golds in this event, the last occurrence being in 1956.
In swimming, Siobhán Haughey clinched bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle, adding to Hong Kong’s medal count and highlighting her exceptional performance in the pool. Her achievement follows a medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where she won silver in both the women’s 200m and 100m freestyle events.
Earlier last Saturday, Vivian Kong Man Wai secured Hong Kong’s first-ever women’s fencing gold in the women’s épée individual event. Kong’s win came after a close contest that saw her come from behind to score the final point in overtime. The three-time Olympian is also currently the women’s world No. 1.
These achievements underscore a historic milestone for Hong Kong, marking the first time the region has won two gold medals in a single Olympic Games. The city currently ranks 10th on the medal table with 2 gold and 1 bronze medal. The top three spots are occupied by Japan (6 golds, 2 silvers, and 4 bronzes), France (5 golds, 8 silvers, and 3 bronzes), and the People’s Republic of China (5 golds, 5 silvers, and 2 bronzes).
Header image credits: Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC)
