Representing Hong Kong, foil fencer and Nike athlete Cheung Ka Long took home his second gold medal in Men’s Individual Foil following a suspenseful final bout. He earned his first gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
Ka Long's motto, “Don’t lose your way,” is his reminder to never forget why he started fencing in the first place — to enjoy the game and have fun.
He grew up in an athletic family — both of his parents were Hong Kong national league basketball players — and started fencing in the fourth grade. In 2017, he became a Nike athlete and won the junior world championship. He would go on to win the World Cup in 2022 and the Grand Prix earlier this year.
“When I was a child, sometimes when I lost, I would cry and feel really unhappy,” Ka Long says. “But my parents would tell me, ‘Even when you lose, make sure your opponent doesn't win easily.’ When I was behind, I would always think about this. If you want to beat me, I can't let you get that easily. And somehow, I ended up winning.”