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Paul McNamara

Cheung Ka-long has paused his decision over whether to aim for a historic third successive Olympic title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Groundbreaking fencer Cheung claimed gold in Paris in July, three years after becoming only Hong Kong’s second Olympic champion in any sport in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old’s coach, Greg Koenig, had intimated he expected Cheung to go for his Olympic hat-trick in four years. But the left-hander, who made his Games debut in 2016, told the Post he was not yet prepared to commit beyond the 2026 World Fencing Championships in his home city.
“To be honest, I have not thought about [the 2028 Olympics] yet,” Cheung said. “I am not sure if I will [compete].

“I am not going to say for sure that I will go, but I am also not going to say I won’t go.
“It will depend on injuries and on how my body goes. My short-term goal is to compete in the 2026 world championships in Hong Kong.
“For the long term, I need time to digest [what happens in the meantime] and to see what happens with my body.”
A world title is the only major honour missing from Cheung’s CV. He won Asian Games gold last year, adding to the Asian Championships titles he claimed in 2016 and 2022, and multiple successes in FIE World Cup and Grand Prix competitions.
The foilist has twice been a world bronze medallist and will have his first opportunity to upgrade at next year’s global competition in Georgia.
His reservations over committing to a fourth Olympics raise the possibility of none of Hong Kong’s medallists from Paris competing in LA. Siobhan Haughey, who claimed two swimming bronze medals, has mooted the possibility of retiring before 2028, while Cheung’s fellow gold-winning fencer, Vivian Kong Man-wai, has stepped away from the sport.
In the here and now, Cheung said he had no problem summoning fresh motivation ahead of returning to action at a World Cup event in Tunisia next month.
“It is not that hard, I experienced [returning from Olympic gold] three years ago, and it feels the same,” Cheung said.
“I took a long break and rested mentally and physically, then got back into training in early September. I have taken my time to get back into good condition.
“Deep in my heart, I like to win, so motivation is never a problem for me. If I am losing, I will keep fighting to win and be the strongest athlete.”
Going to France as reigning Olympic champion heaped expectation on Cheung, who was ranked a lowly world No 19 when he won in Tokyo.
And despite insisting he “didn’t feel stressed” before defending his crown, Cheung said the people closest to him had a contrasting impression.
“I tried to convince myself it was a normal competition, but my coach and everyone else could see I was quite stressed and nervous,” Cheung said.
“I didn’t feel stressed, or that I couldn’t sleep, but everyone looked at me and said, ‘you are a bit stressed’.
“I was acting differently from normal. If I do not train well, I usually take my time and think, ‘it is not a big deal, the next day will be better’.
“But maybe I was a bit more emotional [after difficult training sessions]. I really wanted to be better and be in my best condition for the Olympics.”
Cheung and Frenchman Koenig have formed one of the most formidable coach-and-pupil relationships in world sport since joining forces in 2018.

“What I have experienced with Greg is completely different from anything I had with my Chinese coach,” Cheung said. “He has a different training programme and different mindset … and something I’d never experienced. He cares about an athlete’s mental condition.
“Sometimes, I will be tired of fencing, so he will try another sport. I will play basketball or badminton, which is similar in some ways to fencing.”
Cheung added: “I was tired after the process of qualifying for the Olympics, then preparing and competing. But I have rested well to prepare for the new season.”


Will Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long go for third Olympic gold in Los Angeles? He gives update

Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long reveals secret to success in epic Olympic gold medal bout

Cheung Ka-long’s coach says their father-son relationship key to double Olympic success

Cheung Ka-long aims for Olympic gold again at Los Angeles 2028 – but a world title first

Fencing

Cheung Ka-long celebrates after winning the men’s individual foil final against Italy’s Filippo Macchi in Paris in July. Photo: AP 

Cheung is unsure whether to chase a third successive Olympic crown but is targeting world honours. Photo: AP 

Cheung and his French coach, Greg Koenig, have formed a productive relationship. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long (right) takes on Italy’s Filippo Macchi for the Olympic gold medal in Paris. Photo: AP Photo

Athletes (from right) Ho Yuen-kei, Cheung Ka-long, Chan Ho-yuen, Ma Kwan-ching and Lo Wai-fung share their experiences. Photo: HKBU

Ma Kwan-ching competes in a windsurfing race during the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

Olympic champion Cheung Ka-long (right) has a close relationship with his coach, Greg Koenig, who says that bond is key to the fencer’s success. Photo: Handout

Cheung Ka-long in Paris became only the third men’s foillist to defend his Olympic title. Photo: Reuters

Cheung Ka-long won his first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and in Paris became the first Hongkonger with two. Photo: AP

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long celebrates winning his second Olympic gold, in Paris. Photo: AP

Hong Kong coach Greg Koenig (left) hopes to guide Cheung Ka-long to another gold medal at Los Angeles 2028. Photo: Handout

Greg Koenig says he has been working on his psychology skills since his competitive days. Photo: Mike Chan

With second gold, Hong Kong punches above its weight at Olympics

Gold medalist Ka Long Cheung of Hong Kong celebrates with silver medalist Filippo Macchi of Italy and bronze medalist Nick Itkin of United States after winning. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Hong Kong

Other Sport

Fencer first sets sights on world championships in Hong Kong in 2026, aiming to complete sweep of major honours


Fencer first sets sights on world championships in Hong Kong in 2026, aiming to complete sweep of major honours.


Cheung Ka-long

Olympics