On July 28, 2024, Vivian Kong Man Wai participated in the women's individual Épée· Fencing competition at the Paris Olympics as the world's number one. In the semi-finals, she defeated Estonia's Nilly with a score of 15-11 and entered the finals with French player Auriane Mallo-Breton. During this period, Vivian Kong Man Wai was at a disadvantage, and the point difference reached 1 to 7. Later, when the score was tied to 11 to 11, the two sides tacitly chose passive tactics to conserve their energy. Each team added 1 point when time expired; in the one-minute overtime limit, Calmly looking for opportunities, not being impulsive, and finally deciding the outcome with a sword, winning her first Olympic gold medal with 13-12, which was also the Hong Kong team's third Olympic gold medal in history.
How heavy is Vivian Kong Man Wai's 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Individual Épée· Fencing gold medal?
First, the final opponent is French player Auriane Mallo-Breton, the 2023 European Games women's fencing team gold medalist and the 2024 Summer Olympics women's fencing individual silver medalist. The strong opponent Mallo threatens the advantage of home court and has been leading the game strongly.
Second, at the Asian Fencing Championships a month ago, Vivian withdrew from the competition due to injury in the quarterfinals of the individual competition. After a short period of rehabilitation, she returned to the competition, which was already a huge risk.
Third, Vivian Kong Man Wai finally advanced to the top 16 in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the quarterfinals in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Although the results of the two Olympics have been two major breakthroughs for individuals and Hong Kong, by the 2024 Paris Olympics, Vivian Kong Man Wai was under tremendous psychological pressure. When interviewed after the game, Vivian Kong Man Wai couldn't help expressing his excitement, saying: This time I finally didn't lose.
Under heavy physical and psychological pressure, Vivian Kong Man Wai overcame the huge point difference at the beginning, pursued calmly, and never gave up, making this event held at the Grand Palais in Paris more exciting, attractive and meaningful. One can imagine how heavy this women's fencing gold medal is - Hong Kong's first gold medal in the Paris Olympics and Hong Kong's third gold medal in history!
Vivian Kong Man Wai’s outfit when accepting the award this time also attracted great attention.
This set of uniforms for the Hong Kong delegation of the Paris Olympic Games is provided by FILA and is made of carefully selected INNOTIER patented antibacterial fabrics. INNOTIER insists on fashion that protects and prevents, using its own patented silver weaving technology. The fabric is woven with 99.9% pure silver thread. The clothing has powerful functions such as anti-microbial, anti-odour, anti-dust mites, and high breathability, protecting Hong Kong athletes and reducing the risk of infection, perform at their best and win glory for Hong Kong.
Vivian Kong Man Wai immigrated to Canada with her parents when she was 2 years old, and returned to Hong Kong when she was 6 years old. She has been learning Taekwondo since she was a child (she has a children's black belt, skating, guzheng and painting, etc.). Her family has also arranged for her to learn more elegant activities. For example, in ballet, she also performed well in academics. She attended a Hong Kong primary school, Beacon Hill Primary School and Sha Tin College. She began to formally receive women's fencing training at the age of 11. After practicing for three years, she became outstanding. She jumped up and won the U17 championship in the 2007 National Youth Championship. She said she likes fencing because the fencing moves are a bit like taekwondo. It has the speed of taekwondo and the elegance of ballet. Wang Ruiji, the head coach of the Hong Kong fencing team, believes that Vivian Kong Man Wai. She has a cheerful and unrestrained personality, so she is extremely courageous in the use of tactics, which is an important element of success. Coupled with her strong sense of distance and rhythm, she can compete with adult players; The i-Fencing Alliance Club coach Chan Wai Ging pointed out, Vivian Kong Man Wai has good physical fitness, is born left-handed, has long hands, long legs and a tall stature, which already has inherent advantages. With unremitting training, she can fully realize her personal potential.
Vivian Kong Man Wai is both civil and military. After Vivian Kong Man Wai graduated from the international school English Foundation Shatin College, he was successfully admitted to Stanford University in the United States in 2012 to study for a bachelor's degree in international relations. Later, he studied for a master's degree in law from Renmin University of China and entered the legal professional program (J.D.) of Hong Kong University in September 2021. Vivian Kong Man Wai once said that when she was studying international relations at Stanford, she hoped to join the United Nations in the future and visited the local office in Switzerland.