Cheung Ka Long
A Hong Kong fencer who made history by winning his city's first Olympic gold in 25 years, then defended his title against all odds.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Hong Kong professional fencer·Birthday: June 10·Generation Z
Biography
Edgar Cheung Ka Long didn't just win an Olympic gold medal; he reignited a city's sporting pride. The left-handed foil specialist from Hong Kong arrived at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Games without the fanfare of European favorites. With a fluid, attacking style, he carved through the bracket, defeating the world number one in a stunning final to claim Hong Kong's first Olympic gold since 1996. The victory transformed him from athlete to icon overnight. Rather than rest on that legacy, Cheung doubled down. At Paris 2024, facing immense pressure as the defending champion, he displayed even greater tactical maturity, navigating a brutal field to win gold again. His back-to-back Olympic triumphs have not only cemented his place among fencing's greats but have also inspired a new generation in Hong Kong to pick up the foil.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Cheung was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cheung Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Cheung's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in men's individual foil at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Hong Kong's first gold in 25 years.
- Successfully defended his title, winning gold again in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
- Is a two-time individual Asian champion in men's foil.
Did You Know?
He is left-handed, which provides a tactical advantage in fencing against predominantly right-handed opponents.
His father, Cheung Siu Lun, was also a fencer and served as his first coach.
He studied at Hong Kong's Diocesan Boys' School, which has a strong fencing tradition.
“I want to show that Hong Kong fencers can compete with the world's best.”
