Golden boy on campus: Hong Kong’s Olympic champion Edgar Cheung to be among freshmen at Baptist University as part of special scheme
- The Tokyo 2020 fencing gold medallist paused his studies in secondary school to focus on training full-time and will hit the books for the first time in 9 years
- He is among 6 of the city’s top athletes to enrol this year as part of an admission scheme introduced in 2016
Olympic champion Edgar Cheung Ka-long will be among six elite athletes to enrol at Baptist University this year, as part of a special admission scheme for Hong Kong’s sporting best.
It will be the first time in nine years that the fencer is returning to the classroom, having halted his studies at Form Four at a local secondary school to devote himself full-time to the pistes. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist acknowledged the challenge, but said he would put his full effort into juggling his athletic career with this new opportunity.
“It has been a very long time since I was last a student. I will try my best to keep up with my studies and apply what I have learned to further my career prospects,” he said.
In particular, Cheung hoped that hitting the books would help him prepare for life after his athletic career, and be equipped with coaching and sports management knowledge.
“I am 25 and need to plan for my future. I cannot be an athlete for my whole life,” he said.
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The road to Olympic gold for Hong Kong’s unassuming fencing hero, Edgar Cheung Ka-long
Cheung was admitted to the university’s Physical Education and Recreation Management (PERM) programme through the Talented Athletes Direct Admission Scheme (TADAS) launched earlier this year. A total of 12 athletes applied for the scheme, with six of them successful.
