On the 27th, local time, during the Women's Individual Épée gold medal match at the Paris Olympics, Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong Man Wai made a stunning comeback to claim the gold medal, securing the first gold for the Hong Kong delegation at this Olympics. Despite a significant early deficit, Kong triumphed with a final score of 13:12.
Kong Man Wai is a 2021 master's graduate of Renmin University of China's School of Law, where she studied under Professor Mo Yuchuan.
Kong faced immense pressure from the home crowd during the match. The roaring cheers from the spectators seemed to empower her opponent, Malho, who quickly gained a lead. However, Kong remained composed and carefully analyzed the situation, eventually turning the tables. Capitalizing on this advantage and her growing momentum, Kong made a decisive move in the final moments of the match. With just 35 seconds remaining, she made a sudden attack, successfully striking her opponent to secure the win.
"I finally didn’t lose this time," Kong said, overwhelmed with emotion after her victory. Following her triumph, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Lee Ka Chiu, extended his congratulations to Kong and her coach.
This is her third Olympics. In previous competitions, injuries and unsatisfactory performances made her frustrated and disappointed. However, at the Paris Olympics, Kong approached the event with a calm mindset, ultimately fulfilling her Olympic dream.
Kong’s journey has been characterized by her high standards and relentless drive. Born in 1994, she excelled in various sports from a young age, including athletics, taekwondo, and figure skating. Her father eventually introduced her to fencing, describing it as "the ballet of the sports world, very elegant," which sparked her deep love for the sport.
Kong has also made great performance in academic. After earning a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University and a Master's degree in Law from Renmin University, she continued her studies as a Ph.D. candidate in law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Even while preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, Kong balanced her rigorous training schedule with completing her master’s thesis.
Looking ahead, we hope that Kong Man Wai continues to pursue her goals and achieves even greater breakthroughs in the future!