Are you hyped for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 (or rather, 2021)? We are! Putting the worries about the pandemic at the back of our minds, we’re here to introduce you to some of the Hong Kong female athletes you should be rooting for in the Olympics.
We love all things local at Honeycombers. From Hong Kong’s vibrant street food scene and beautiful beaches, to the city’s very own jewellery designers and aspiring artists, this city teems with energy and talent. And talking about talent – how can we not mention Hong Kong’s amazing athletes? After all the hard work and the disappointing delay of the Olympics last year, the Hong Kong team has finally hit Tokyo this month. While each and every athlete deserves your support, we’ve picked out a few of the biggest names in the female sports industry right now, so you won’t miss out on the action. Ready, set, go!
Hong Kong female athletes to cheer on in the Olympics
1. Sarah Lee Wai-sze (李慧詩)
Professional track cyclist, Sarah Lee Wai-sze, has been in the limelight in Hong Kong for the past decade. After being recognised for her athletic abilities during secondary school, Lee became a full-time cyclist in 2004. She broke multiple records in the 2010 Asian Games, and won a bronze medal for women’s keirin in the London Olympics 2012 – the third Olympic medal that Hong Kong has ever won. In the following year, she even won the UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Having won numerous medals for Asian and international contests every year since, everybody is looking forward to Lee’s performance in the upcoming Summer Olympics. No pressure, Sarah! 😉
Follow Sarah Lee Wai-sze on Facebook and Instagram.
2. Siobhan Haughey (何詩蓓)
While some of us aren’t natural swimmers (we still try, though!), others have been paddling about in the pool since they were six months old. Yes, you read that right – such is the case of Siobhan Haughey, a young swimmer of Irish and Hong Kong descent. This star athlete has been breaking all sorts of Hong Kong and Asian records for swimming since 2008 (when she was about nine years old). Altogether, Haughey has broken the city’s records over 60 times, 17 of which are adult swimming records that she holds to this day. You’ll be able to catch Haughey in the 50-, 100-, and 200-metre freestyle events in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Follow Siobhan Haughey on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Vivian Kong Man-wai (江旻憓)
You wouldn’t wanna duel with this lady! Vivian Kong Man-wai has been ranked the number one female epee fencer in the world, having won two World Cup titles in Cuba and Barcelona during the 2019 FIE Women’s Epee World Cup. As if being an Olympian isn’t enough, Kong even graduated from the world-class Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Still very much in her prime, Kong is certainly a podium hopeful in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Follow Vivian Kong Man-wai on Facebook and Instagram.
4. Grace Lau Mo-sheung (劉慕裳)
Since becoming a full-time karateka in 2015, Grace Lau Mo-sheung has managed to attain silver and bronze medals in several Asian and World Karate Championships for the women’s individual kata event. Because this is the last Olympic games with karate in its programme, Lau is looking to win her first – and sadly also the last – Olympic medal(s) this summer. We’re rooting for you, Grace – fight on!
Follow Grace Lau Mo-sheung on Instagram.
5. Stephanie Au Hoi-shun (歐鎧淳)
No, she’s not a KOL… Oh wait, she is. But at the same time, she’s an Olympic swimmer. That’s right, Stephanie Au Hoi-shun is the best of both worlds. Having already been to three Summer Olympics, one of which she was the flag-bearer for the 852, Au is the first Hong Kong athlete to participate in a fourth Olympics. Having started young, Au broke her first Hong Kong record when she was only 13 years old. Moreover, the swimmer is skilled at both freestyle and backstroke, demonstrating great versatility. As the Tokyo Olympics may be Au’s last Summer Olympics, be sure to catch her in the women’s 100-metre backstroke event and two freestyle relays alongside Haughey.
