Sports Stars from Hong Kong: Here are 5 Glorious
Sports stars from Hong Kong have been reaching historic heights in recent years, particularly following the record-breaking performances at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In recent years, fencing and swimming have become the most influential sports in Hong Kong due to historic achievements at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. These sports have produced high-profile stars whose success has significantly boosted local interest and government support for elite sports development.
Leading Sports by Category
| Category | Primary Sport(s) | Key Influence / Event |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Performance | Fencing, Swimming, Cycling | Success in Olympic Games and National Games. |
| Highest Participation | Badminton, Jogging, Swimming | Widely practiced for health and social recreation. |
| Major Spectator Events | Horse Racing, Rugby Sevens | Hong Kong Sevens is a globally recognized annual festival. |
| Commercial Influence | Horse Racing | Generates massive tax revenue (over 11%) and gambling turnover. |
In this story, we are discussing 5 glorious Sports stars from Hong Kong.
1. Cheung Ka-long (Fencing):–One of the Successful Sports Stars from Hong Kong
Photo Taÿ-Pamart/Bizzi/FIE
Edgar Cheung Ka-long (born 10 June 1997) is a celebrated Hong Kong left-handed foil fencer who made history by winning consecutive Olympic gold medals in the men’s individual foil at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics. Known as the “Fencing God,” he is the first Hong Kong athlete to win two Olympic golds and only the third man to retain a foil title.
Key Facts about Cheung Ka-long:
- Historic Achievements: Beyond his 2020 and 2024 Olympic titles, he was the first Hong Kong fencer to win a World Championship medal (bronze, 2022) and multiple Asian Championship individual titles.
- Background: Born to former basketball players, Cheung took up fencing at age 10, initially as a summer activity to pass time.
- Style and Ranking: At 193 cm (6’4″) tall, his reach and speed are key assets. He has been consistently ranked among the top foilists in the world.
- Legacy: His victory in Tokyo prompted a “fencing boom” in Hong Kong, increasing the popularity of the sport in the city. He is established as one of the decorated Sports Stars from Hong Kong.
- Accolades: He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star for his dedication and success.
Yes, Cheung Ka-long is a strong candidate to win a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. As the defending individual men’s foil champion, he enters the current 2026 season consistently ranked among the world’s top fencers.
History at the Asian Games
Cheung has a proven track record of success at the continental level:
- Hangzhou 2022 (held in 2023): Won individual gold and team bronze.
- Jakarta-Palembang 2018: Won individual bronze and team silver.
- Incheon 2014: Won team bronze at just 17 years old.
2026 Asian Games Schedule
The fencing competitions for the 20th Asian Games are scheduled to take place between September 22 and September 27, 2026, in Nagoya, Japan. A lot of sports stars from Hong Kong are participating in that event. While Cheung has expressed a need to “pace himself” to manage his physical condition for the long term, he continues to train at an elite level to add more major titles to his career Grand Slam. He is likely to win the Gold Medal and prove himself as one of the iconic Sports Stars from Hong Kong.
2. Siobhan Haughey (Swimming)–Best swimmer among Sports stars from Hong Kong
Siobhan Haughey enters 2026 in elite form, making her a primary gold medal favorite for the Asian Games and a top-tier contender for the Pan Pacific Championships. As of April 18, 2026, she is currently ranked as the third-fastest swimmer in the world for the 200m freestyle this season.
20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026)
Haughey is the defending champion and the favorite to sweep the sprint freestyle events.
- Gold Medal Outlook: Extremely High. She is currently dominating regional competition, recently defeating top rivals at the 2026 China Open.
- Main Rivals: She faces “stiff competition” from rising stars in China and Japan, but her recent season-best times of 52.77s (100m free) and 1:54.31 (200m free) place her well ahead of most Asian competitors.
- Target Events: She is confirmed for the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, as well as relay events.
One of the best sports stars from Hong Kong, Haughey, has a real chance in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2026
Haughey is considered a “serious medal threat” at this meet, which features the world’s powerhouses. Gold Medal Outlook: High. While the field includes global stars from Australia and the USA, Haughey has proven she can beat them in-season.
Current Form: Just today, April 18, 2026, she set a meet record of 1:54.31 in the 200m freestyle at the Bergen Swim Festival, beating top American talent, and again proved herself as one of the best Sports Stars from Hong Kong.
Key Competition: Her primary hurdle for gold will be Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, whom she narrowly beat in the 100m free but lost to in the 200m free at the March 2026 China Open.
2026 Performance Summary
| Event | 2026 Best Time | Global Ranking (Current Season) | Notable Recent Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100m Freestyle | 52.77s | Top 3 | Dubai Open Gold |
| 200m Freestyle | 1:54.31 | 3rd | Bergen Swim Festival Gold |
| 50m Freestyle | 24.34s | Elite | Malmsten Swim Open Gold |
Haughey’s strategy for 2026 involves a “race as training” approach, using frequent high-level meets in Europe and Asia to sharpen her form for the major championships in the latter half of the year.
experience in the past Asiad to prove elite Sports stars from Hong Kong
2023 Asian Games (Hangzhou, China)
Swimming an off-event, Haughey still managed to capture bronze in the 50 breast with a 30.36. That took .85 seconds off her own national record. Previewing her meet to come, in the 400 free relay, Haughey clocked a super speedy 51.92 split to help Hong Kong to bronze. In the 200 free, Haughhey came within striking distance of her own 200 free Asian Record of 1:53.92 as she crushed the previous Games record of 1:56.65 by over 2.5 seconds to win in 1:54.12.
In the 100 free, Haughey collected her second gold medal of the 2023 Asian Games in style, firing off a new Asian Record en route to topping the field with a 52.17. Opening in 25.16 and closing in 27.01, she won by almost a second. The penultimate night of action saw Haughey take down another national record, this time in the 50 free. Haughey ultimately got to the wall in a time of 24.34, good enough for silver behind winner Zhang Yufei. That shaved .10 seconds off her PB.
3. Lee Lai-shan (Windsurfing)
Nicknamed “San San”, the hugely popular windsurfer Lai Shan Lee is the first athlete from Hong Kong to climb to the top of their sport and the only Olympic champion ever produced by the former British colony. Her results are sufficient as the best Sports stars from Hong Kong.
Career Highlights and Major Achievements
Beyond her Olympic triumph, Lee (affectionately known as “San San”) was a dominant force in world windsurfing throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
| Competition | Result | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | Gold | 1996 |
| World Championships | 1st Place | 1993, 1997, 2001 |
| Asian Games | Gold | 1998, 2002 |
| Asian Games | Silver | 1990, 1994 |
Key Performance Details
- 1996 Olympic Victory: Lee’s performance in Atlanta was characterized by extreme consistency. Despite being stung by a jellyfish just before the first race, she remained in the top positions throughout the event. By winning the eighth race, she secured the gold medal so decisively that she was able to skip the final race.
- Historic Impact: Immediately after her win, she famously declared, “Hong Kong athletes are not rubbish!”—a quote that became an iconic part of the region’s sporting heritage. After that, she was classified as the most decorated among sports stars from Hong Kong
- Consistent Top Finisher: Her Olympic career spanned four Games (1992–2004), finishing in the top 11 every time, including a 4th-place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
- World Ranking: She was the first among the sports stars from Hong Kong to reach the world No. 1 ranking in any sport.
4. Vivian Kong Man-wai(Fencing)–dynamic among current Sports Stars from Hong Kong
Vivian Kong Man-wai (born 8 February 1994) is a former world No. 1 épée fencer from Hong Kong who made history by winning the city’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s fencing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This historical result established her as one of the Glorious Sports Stars from Hong Kong.
Career and Achievements
Kong, often nicknamed the “Queen of Swords,” has been a dominant force in international fencing for nearly two decades.
- Paris 2024 Gold: She staged a dramatic comeback in the individual épée final, overcoming a 1–7 deficit against France’s Auriane Mallo-Breton to win 13–12.
- World Rankings: She has held the World No. 1 ranking multiple times, including in 2019 and 2024.
- Major Titles: Her medal tally includes three individual Asian Championships gold medals and two bronze medals from the World Fencing Championships (2019 and 2022).
Shortly after her Olympic triumph, Kong announced her retirement from professional fencing on 4 August 2024 to pursue new career paths and community service. Despite this decision, she is respected by a lot of sports stars from Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong Jockey Club: In August 2024, she joined the Hong Kong Jockey Club as an Assistant Manager for External Affairs to promote sports development.
- Political Career: In December 2025, she was elected as a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the Tourism functional constituency. During her campaign, she pledged to apply the “athlete’s spirit” to her work for the city
Background and Education
Kong is highly regarded for her academic background and versatile interests among sports stars from Hong Kong.
- Academic Excellence: She holds a degree in International Relations from Stanford University, a Master’s in Law from Renmin University of China, and is a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) candidate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
- Personal Life: She has been a vegan since 2017, a choice she made after recovering from a knee injury. Her hobbies include playing the piano, painting, and yoga
5. Ryan Choi Chun-yin (Fencing)–Best of the Best between Sports Stars from Hong Kong
Ryan Choi Chun-yin (born October 9, 1997) is a professional Hong Kong fencer who made history in 2025 as the city’s first-ever world champion in the men’s individual foil.
Competing left-handed, he reached the world No. 1 ranking following a phenomenal “golden streak” that included titles at the Shanghai Grand Prix, the Asian Championships, and the World Fencing Championships in Tbilisi. Beyond the piste, Choi may be ranked number one among Sports Stars from Hong Kong.
Major Achievements
Choi’s career is defined by several milestones for Hong Kong fencing.
- World Champion (2025): Secured the historic individual foil gold in Tbilisi, Georgia, defeating Kirill Borodachev 15–9.
- World No. 1 Ranking: Propelled to the top spot in July 2025 after his world championship victory.
- Continental Success: Multiple-time medalist at the Asian Fencing Championships, including individual gold in Bali (2025).
- Olympic Participation: Represented Hong Kong at the 2020 Summer Olympics in both individual and team foil events.
- Grand Prix Gold: Won the Shanghai Foil Grand Prix in May 2025, marking the start of his elite winning streak.
Career Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Foil (Left-handed) |
| Head Coach | Grégory Koenig |
| Education | La Salle College; University of Hong Kong (Accounting) |
| Club | Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) |
| Awards | HK Male Athlete of the Year (2021); HK Junior Sports Stars Award (2014) |
Choi is known for an unorthodox, “flashy and unpredictable” fencing style. He initially resisted the sport as a child, finding it “dangerous,” but was encouraged by his mother and eventually turned professional in 2018. He was roommates with actor-singer Edan Lui during his time at the University of Hong Kong. He is known as a versatile personality among sports Stars from Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has seen a significant rise in sporting success due to increased government investment, specialized training facilities, and strategic development of Sports Stars from Hong Kong. The city’s sports scene has shifted from a hobbyist focus to a professional, high-performance model, particularly leading up to its best-ever performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics and success in the 2023 Asian Games.
Key Factors Driving Hong Kong’s Sporting Success and the Development of Sports Stars from Hong Kong
- Elite Athlete Support & Funding: The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) serves as the hub for identifying and nurturing talent, providing comprehensive training and financial support to athletes. It supports “Tier A” sports, including fencing, cycling, swimming, and squash.
- Infrastructure Investment: The government has invested in specialized facilities, such as the velodrome (crucial to cyclist Sarah Lee’s success) and the major Kai Tak Sports Park, which features a 50,000-seat stadium for international events.
- Strategic Focus on Specific Sports: Hong Kong excels by allocating resources to sports that align with its urban environment and strengths, such as badminton, table tennis, fencing, and cycling.
- Partnership with Mainland China: Through its relationship with mainland China, Hong Kong athletes gain access to better training opportunities and competition experience.
- International Status: As a Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong competes separately at the Olympics, allowing for the dedicated promotion of its own athletes.
Key Recent Achievements:
- 2024 Paris Olympics: The city achieved a “bumper harvest” with multiple medals, including gold for Cheung Ka-long (fencing) and Vivian Kong (fencing), and medals for Siobhan Haughey (swimming).
- 2023 Asian Games: Recorded a best-ever 53 medals. After the Paris Olympics, many Sports Stars From Hong Kong gained more attention at the international level too.
- 2025 National Games: Hong Kong is co-hosting these games, highlighting its ability to organize international-standard events in cycling, fencing, rugby sevens, and golf.
Challenges and Future Outlook for Sports Stars from Hong Kong
Despite recent successes, observers note that long-term development requires continued investment and improvements to facility access to maintain high standards and foster a deeper, rather than just elite, sports culture
Fencing is considered one of the main sports of Hong Kong. That game produced a significant number of Sports Stars from Hong. Among the five glorious stars, we described the 3 sports stars from Hong Kong related to Fencing.
Cycling & Hiking, Cycling & Hiking, Football and Basketball are other popular sports in Hong Kong.
ConClusion
Many sports stars from Hong Kong are strong contenders to become or remain world champions in 2026, particularly in fencing, swimming, and karate. The city is currently experiencing a “golden age” in sports, bolstered by record-breaking performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics and subsequent world-level events
Grace Lau Mo-sheung(Karate) is also capable of being the World Champion.
Key World Championship Events in 2026
| Sport | Event | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fencing | 2026 World Fencing Championships | Hong Kong | Home Turf Advantage |
| Cycling | 2026 UCI Track World Cup | Hong Kong | Strong medal hopes for Ceci Lee Sze-wing |
| Rugby | Hong Kong Sevens (50th Anniversary) | Hong Kong | Defending Melrose Claymores titles |
Beyond individual world championships, these athletes will also be competing for major titles at the 2025 National Games (late 2025) and preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics (where short-track speed skater Lam Ching-yan recently secured a historic 7th place finish)