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<p>Standing highest on the podium to receive an Olympic gold medal is the achievement of a lifetime, stirring up feelings of supreme pride and fulfilment. It can also bring immense financial rewards, as well as personal and social benefits that are beyond monetary calculation. But just how financially enriching is Olympic glory?</p>



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<p>As the joyous celebrations of the Paris Olympics fade into memory, it is worth considering that in many places around the world, especially Asian cities like Hong Kong, building a career based on unconventional activities like sports in the headlong pursuit of Olympic triumph was once frowned upon. But Hong Kong’s success in the last two Games, in 2021 in Tokyo and now Paris, especially in fencing, has meant many parents now question this dogma and encourage offspring who want to pursue dreams of sporting glory.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="580" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-1024x580.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83586" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-1024x580.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-494x280.jpg 494w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-768x435.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-2048x1160.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/170581-AGU_8451-800x453.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Those that do so received a tremendous boost when the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced just prior to the Paris Olympics that it had increased its cash rewards to high-performing athletes representing Hong Kong, China. Payments from the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme rose by 20% for both teams and individuals compared to the Tokyo Games. This meant that Hong Kong’s two gold medallists, Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai, each received HKS6 million. Handouts were scaled down successively according to finishing position, with those placed from fifth to eighth receiving the lowest amount of HK$375,000.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gifts for glory</h3>



<p>Hong Kong athletes were in the enviable position of being some of the best earners at the Olympics. Indeed, foil champion Cheung reportedly received an additional HK$3 million through the Outstanding Athletes Incentive Awards Scheme of his alma mater, Lam Tai Fai College, after defending the title he had won in Tokyo. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="628" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1-1024x628.png" alt="" class="wp-image-83587" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1-1024x628.png 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1-457x280.png 457w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1-768x471.png 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1-200x123.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1-800x490.png 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/c8p7nsrxushd1.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Rewards offered by countries to incentivise their athletes participating in the greatest athletic show on earth varied considerably. Singapore badminton star Loh Kean Yew’s exit at the quarter-final stage cost him a possible golden payout of SG$1 million (about HK$5.8 million), a sum just shy of Hong Kong’s top reward. Serbia and Malaysia offered considerable cash incentives to reach the centre podium as well as the carrot of a lifelong pension. Thus, Serbia’s Zorana Arunović and Damir Mikec, following their success in the 10m air-pistol mixed team event, will be the lucky recipients of their national pension when they reach the venerable age of 40.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lifetime of ice cream</h3>



<p>All those years of unending training and physical exertion will certainly be worthwhile for gymnast Carlos Yulo of the Philippines, who won two gold medals in Paris. His list of rewards seems almost endless: a generous cash prize mandated by law; the Senate Medal of Excellence; gifts of condos and houses from big business and property agents; free flights with Philippine Air; shopping perks; a lifetime of free pizza from Pizza Hut and ice cream by Dairy Queen; a Land Cruiser Prado from Toyota; and even three personalised gold bars gifted by a pawn shop. Filipino band Moonstar88 have also promised to play at his wedding.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="661" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-1024x661.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-83585" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-1024x661.jpeg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-434x280.jpeg 434w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-768x496.jpeg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-1536x991.jpeg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-2048x1322.jpeg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-200x129.jpeg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-08-03T134923Z_2032080392_UP1EK8312E9OA_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-ARTISTICGYMNASTICS_2024_08_03_22_02_21_2-800x516.jpeg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>To put these rewards into context, sporting nations like Great Britain, Sweden and Norway do not offer their athletes any financial incentives for winning gold at the Olympics. It is expected, though, that such success will lead to other opportunities for making money through brand sponsorships and partnerships.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Increased marketability</h3>



<p>According to Tom Potter, CEO of Rush Sport &amp; Entertainment, the marketability of sports stars depends on a combination of their association with a popular sport, their individual qualities, excellence in performance, and sometimes personal aesthetics. “The dynamics of these relationships can change based on the athlete’s performance, public image and the evolving landscape of sports and marketing,” he says.</p>



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<p>Though not referring specifically to Olympic triumph, Potter believes sporting success is bound to inflate the marketability of an athlete. “The individual qualities of a sports star, including their sporting excellence and fair play, may contribute significantly to their marketability. Fans admire and respect athletes who excel in their respective sports, and these qualities can enhance the positive image of a brand associated with them,” he says, adding: “While it’s not a strict requirement, reaching a high level of excellence often increases a sports star’s appeal to brands.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83589" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-373x280.jpg 373w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-200x150.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/gettyimages-1332438895-fad0d353b53a6fef29f171dd4c5b6b2ef568091c-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>China’s teenage diving sensation, Quan Hongchan, already has an estimated net worth of between US$1.5 million and US$2 million. This year’s successful defence of her Olympic crown added to her wealth – including a reported 450,000 yuan (US$63,700) from the sale of the car she was awarded. Her rise to stardom has been meteoric, and her earning potential will surely rocket as leading brands seek to tap into her reflected glory.</p>



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<p>Generally speaking, athletes who consistently perform well, break records or achieve remarkable feats tend to attract more lucrative sponsorship deals. Interestingly, those who do not win but have other qualities can also strike valuable brand-association deals. They may be loveable underdogs with big personalities or possess real character, and despite not being great champions, add entertainment value to the sport and have a strong fanbase.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Endorsement queen</h3>



<p>Some stars have struck short-term deals with major brands to capitalise on this festival of sport, such as US gymnast Simone Biles who joined hands with Uber Eats for the Tokyo Olympics. “This allowed Uber Eats to capitalise on Biles’ popularity and relevance during key moments, without committing to a long-term arrangement,” says Potter.</p>



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<p>This is on top of her slew of multi-year endorsement deals with major brands like Athleta, the Gap-owned athletic apparel line she jumped to from previous sponsor Nike in 2021. These are companies that are keen to forge a deeper connection with a sportsperson, thereby fostering authenticity. Such endorsements far exceeded the estimated US$100,000 Biles pocketed directly from gymnastics last year; according to Forbes, she landed US$7.1 million in total earnings in 2023.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="708" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM-1024x708.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83591" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM-1024x708.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM-405x280.jpg 405w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM-768x531.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM-200x138.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM-800x553.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JPVAWQ3XQZMXJBVQ23P7NC5NMM.jpg 1185w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>While financial success is no doubt welcomed, the gymnastic idol has subjected herself to mental anguish and sacrifices in the pursuit of glory. In Tokyo on a vault routine, she could not sense up from down and withdrew from her remaining apparatus events. She has since been candid about her mental health, revealing that she sees a therapist once a week. In Paris, she won a further three gold medals to add to her collection.</p>



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<p>Other stars, such as US sprinter Noah Lyles, have talked about the pressures of being a top-tier athlete. Lyles said he suffered from depression during the pandemic. But after a disappointing performance in Tokyo, he recovered sufficiently to achieve gold in the 100 metres in Paris.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Athletic presence</h3>



<p>In a Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes at the Paris Olympics, it was those in mainstream sports such as basketball, tennis and golf that dominated the rankings. The richest is billionaire LeBron James, whose annual endorsements top even his hefty NBA salary of some US$50 million a year.</p>



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<p>Athletics, which gains such prominence during the Olympics, perhaps lacks visibility outside this elite occasion. The Financial Times revealed moves are afoot to raise its profile beyond the Games and increase the number of high-paying meets. If there is not a path to a good living, some sports will struggle to attract the best athletes, indicated one insider.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-1024x682.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-83590" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-420x280.jpeg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-1536x1023.jpeg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-2048x1364.jpeg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-200x133.jpeg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GUkWkD5WMAAp4se-800x533.jpeg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Two-time Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen echoed these sentiments at the Hong Kong Open last month. The Dane said he would be the cheerleader to give the sport greater global attention outside the glare of the Olympics.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Riches &amp; rewards</h3>



<p>Another issue is funding of athletes to train and be ready to compete at the highest level. In Hong Kong, there has been much debate about increasing the financial support offered and improving the governance of sports associations. Local badminton star Lee Cheuk-yiu has called for more attractive annual remuneration packages to help aspiring Olympians make ends meet.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83592" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Simone_Biles_na_prova_final_da_trave_nos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Ultimately, to become an Olympic champion, and achieve the riches this accrues, requires an impressive mental and physical toolbox. Aside from the lottery of life determining which nation you represent, the amount an athlete can earn depends on a whole range of factors. Endorsements and personal brand development are the real goldmine, but gaining recognition through sport can also deliver education and employment opportunities.</p>



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<p>Some athletes like to give back, such as épée gold-medallist Kong, who aims to set up a charity with her winnings to promote sports development in Hong Kong. She is someone who undoubtedly knows the sacrifices and tough mentality needed to make it to the top of the sporting money tree.</p>


Olympic Gold: Rewarded by cash incentives and sponsorship deals, today’s champions can run straight to the bank 


<p>Elite sports stars have long held an irresistible attraction for adoring fans, who admire the physical prowess and mental toughness that sees athletes conquer adversity and remain at the pinnacle of their sporting endeavour. The very best are courted by the top global brands wanting to connect their product with the excellence of their sporting ambassadors.</p>



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<p>Just last month, German fashion house Hugo Boss looked to two upcoming tennis players from the country, Noma Noha Akugue and Ella Seidel, to spearhead a push into women’s tennis wear. During the qualification rounds of the Australian Open, the young stars wore Boss black and cream sportswear, including plisse-hem dresses or skirts, technical tops and layered shorts complete with logos.</p>


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<p>Seidel, an 18-year-old known for her powerful play from the baseline, was certainly happy to join Boss as a brand ambassador, commenting on the win-win deal: “It is a real pleasure to enter this partnership with Boss at this exciting point in my career. I admire the brand’s continuous support for tennis – and sports in general – and am looking forward to channelling Boss energy, confidence and courage into my games.”</p>



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<p>Akugue, two years her senior, also expressed delight in the association, opining the opportunity would put women’s tennis firmly in the spotlight and help her “forge a deeper connection with my fans”. Boss’s other tennis ambassador, Italian Matteo Berrettini, was due to sport new designs from the men’s tennis capsule collection he co-created but was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.</p>


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<p>Other fashion brands are attracted by the allure and athleticism of tennis players, with Gucci recently signing Jannick Sinner to its stable. The Italian, who carries his gear in a customised Gucci monogram duffel bag, appears in a poetic mood on the Gucci website, musing as he holds a book entitled Sinner by Sinner: “Jannick Sinner is humble. He’s aiming for perfection, and he’s not scared of doing things. … If I could have one superpower, it would be playing tennis forever. My journey is only just beginning!”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">China draw</h3>



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<p>Luxury brands seeking to boost their influence with China’s youth are also offering endorsement contracts to the mainland’s top athletes.</p>
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<p>Prada has signed tennis player Wang Qiang, whilst Dior has taken on basketball player Guo Ailun. Both luxury titans view these associations as a powerful means to nurture growth and brand loyalty in a growing market segment. Some analysts believe Chinese sports stars offer a more wholesome image than their peers in pop music or film. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Flying the French flag</h3>



<p>Fashion brands are also maximising the opportunity presented by this summer’s Paris Olympics to score more points in the sporting arena. Luxury giant LVMH, whose maisons have created trophies or designed trophy trunks for high-level competitions for years, has struck a deal to sponsor the Games and appointed a trio of French talents as Louis Vuitton Paris Olympics ambassadors – swimmer Léon Marchand, artistic gymnast Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos and fencer Enzo Lefort. Jeweller Chaumet, meanwhile, is crafting the medals.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Marvellous Messi</h3>



<p>Part of the excitement of top-tier sport for fans is the narrow margin between success and failure; it could be the width of a post or the toe of a goalkeeper that separates winning from losing. So it proved in the 2022 World Cup Final when the outstretched leg of the Argentine goalkeeper stopped a certain winning goal in the closing stages of that epic game. The eventual victory for Argentina cemented Lionel Messi’s reputation as probably the best player to have ever graced the game of football. His mesmerising dribbling ability, low centre of gravity and perfect spatial awareness left the global audience spellbound. He is quite simply unique, a once-in-a-generation footballer.</p>


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<p>Ranked by Forbes as the second highest-paid athlete in 2023 (behind that other international soccer icon, Cristiano Ronaldo), and in the top three in the revenue stakes for eight years running, Messi’s wide appeal is a godsend for brands with big bucks at their disposal. He tops SportsPro’s list of the world’s 50 Most Marketable Athletes.</p>



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<p>His star attraction is such that his Instagram account is just shy of 500 million followers. After his departure from Paris Saint-Germain last year, his next club, Inter Miami, had a massive uplift in their following. The Miami side, and potentially the maestro himself, are due in Hong Kong this month for an exhibition match.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Football fever</h3>



<p>Messi mania is why Louis Vuitton was so keen to feature him alongside Ronaldo in its advertising campaign prior to the 2022 World Cup. The duo’s combined allure meant the ad went instantly viral. A dozen years earlier, the house had employed the services of a trio of footballing greats – Pelé, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane – in an advert.</p>



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<p>Another footballing superstar, David Beckham, has become something of a fashion icon, and in 2015 secured a five-year multimillion-dollar deal with Kent &amp; Curwen, the British menswear outfit offering heritage sporting style. Formerly owned by Hong Kong- based Trinity Group, Kent &amp; Curwen previously had Beckham’s ex-England and Real Madrid teammate Michael Owen on its books.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Passion and risk</h3>



<p>High-profile sport whips up a frenzy of passion and emotions, which brings rewards as well as risks for athletes and brands alike. Fans are desperate for success and competitors sometimes take risks, knowingly or unknowingly, that may cross the boundaries of lawful or ethical behaviour, posing huge challenges for their sponsors. Maradona, for instance, experienced a spectacular fall from grace at the 1994 World Cup after failing a drugs test. In 2016, when tennis ace Maria Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a drug which can boost stamina and performance, sponsors Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche quickly distanced themselves from the Russian star.</p>


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<p>Interestingly, Nike stood by Tiger Woods in 2009 after lurid details of his extra-marital affairs were revealed to a titillated public eager for scandal. Other major brands dropped their endorsement deals with the champion golfer, but not the US sneaker and sports apparel giant. Woods had been with Nike for two decades and the deal they signed in 2000 was thought to be worth US$100 million. Despite the Woods’ sponsorship, sales of golf equipment never reached the levels of others like football, running or basketball, and Nike discontinued its golf range in 2016.</p>



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<p>Woods is known to have a close personal relationship with Nike co-founder Phil Knight and both paid emotional tributes upon their professional parting of ways. Such are the bonds forged over sport, its power to shape minds, and the desire of brands to tap into the glory.</p>


The Beautiful Game: Luxury brands are increasingly connecting with sports stars to further the ambition of both sides


<p>The FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China, were ones to remember for Hong Kong and its athletes. Astonishingly, their medal haul – 12 including 4 golds – matched Hong Kong’s combined total at all previous games. While friendships were forged and great individual and team battles played out, this summer’s edition of the biennial world student games will undoubtedly leave a lasting sporting legacy for the city. There were moments of supreme personal achievement and performances representing the pinnacle of sporting excellence.</p>



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<p>Most impressive was the achievement of Hong Kong fencing superstar Edgar Cheung Ka-long, who notched up double gold, in the Men’s Individual Foil and the Team Foil. The 26-year-old, who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Recreation Management at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), is no stranger to the winner’s podium, having bagged the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the same individual event.</p>


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<p>Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice- Chancellor of HKBU, expressed immense pride in his student’s unwavering perseverance and determination, further stating: “His exceptional performance has solidified his position as one of the world’s top fencers, and we are all expecting him to reach new heights in the field.” Cheung’s achievement in winning two gold medals at a single World University Games was last matched by Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey at the 2017 edition in Taipei.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Win win for Hong Kong</h3>



<p>In total, Hong Kong won four gold, one silver and seven bronze medals in Chengdu. Dr. Hon Sze-Sze of the HKBU’s Department of Sport, Physical Education &amp; Health believes the success of Hong Kong athletes at the 31st University Games will enhance the perception of sports and boost participation in a city where traditionally it has ranked low in the public consciousness. “It is important for people to see that Hong Kong athletes could compete in high-level sports competitions and find success there, proving that it is not just a wild dream for young kids wanting to reach the Olympics one day,” she says.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77599" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Hon is convinced successful role models are much needed for aspiring young athletes and children alike. Regarding its value for sporting exposure, she places the games organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) just second to the Olympics in terms of the number of participants and the level of sporting excellence. “In terms of spectatorship, it is undoubtedly very successful in drawing a good audience,” she stresses, adding: “The World University Games is seen as a platform where young student-athletes can learn from peers of diverse culture and background; it is not merely a gathering to demonstrate athletic prowess.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond sporting excellence</h3>



<p>The stated aim of HKBU’s Physical Education and Recreation Management degree is to provide students with sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and practical experience in the discipline. While the course is not focused on training elite athletes in technical sports skills per se, it would certainly support student-athletes in pursuing their sporting goals while studying. “In addition, under the ethos of ‘whole person education’ of HKBU, our students will receive a strong liberal arts education to prepare them for a variety of careers,” says Hon.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77597" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1_p-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Other notable student-athletes studying at HKBU have competed in major games. Recently retired top track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, who won two bronze medals at separate Olympics, graduated from its Creative and Professional Writing programme. The university also had other athletes at the World University Games who performed well, such as wushu star Lau Chi-lung, who won a silver medal in the Men’s nanquan. His achievement represents triumph over adversity as he suffered a serious knee injury a couple of years previously. Hon says Lau’s example will inspire others to overcome setbacks through hard work and self-discipline.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">University support</h3>



<p>She points out that HKBU and other local universities offer different categories of scholarships to encourage current and retiring athletes to engage in academic programs which help to expand their future career prospects. Cheung, for instance, was one of the scholarship awardees under HKBU’s Talented Athletes Direct Admission Scheme last year.</p>



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<p>According to HKBU’s website, the scheme provides funding for eligible applicants who have sport talent and achieved outstanding results in sport at admission. Funding is renewable for the normal duration of the course, subject to the student’s academic results, good progress in sport training and performance, as well as contributions to the Sport Leadership Programme.</p>


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<p>The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) also provided medal winners at the Games and encourages students with exceptional athletic abilities to enrol through various admission programmes. A spokesperson indicated that as part of this commitment, HKUST has enhanced its Student Athletes Admissions Scheme to offer special admissions consideration based on sport achievements, as well as flexible study arrangements, scholarships, living allowances, academic accommodation and other relevant assistance, allowing student-athletes to pursue their sporting and academic goals simultaneously.</p>



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<p>Citywide, the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong, which embraces eight universities, paves the way for sports stars to gain tertiary education. It maintains the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme to promote sport achievement-based university admissions for local athletes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Power of sport</h3>



<p>HKUST says it recognises the wider personal and developmental benefits of sports and its ability to foster a sense of belonging, dedication and enjoyment among students. To this end, there are more than 30 sports clubs at the university and over 50 HKUST sports teams participating in intercollegiate, local and international competitions. All new undergraduates are required to take the sports skill class within its Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets and Wellness course in their first year of study to learn how to maintain a well- balanced and healthy lifestyle.</p>



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<p>The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme rewarded those athletes who achieved success at the World University Games. Monetary bonuses provide extra incentives for top- level performance, according to Hon, who points out that many athletes devote a great deal of time to training and competitions. “However, I do not think many athletes are aiming to earn big money through their sports endeavours,” she says. “Most of them do it because of the pure love of the sport itself.”</p>


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<p>Hon also notes many are driven by a continual desire to improve their performance levels. Hong Kong’s world-class fencer is a classic example of a person driven to succeed. Soon after his latest gold medal triumph, Cheung told the assembled media: “I don’t think about anything. My mind is just ‘be a warrior, just fight’.”</p>



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<p>The Asian Games in Hangzhou, which begin on 23 September, is the next opportunity for the city’s sports warriors to shine.</p>


Best Games Ever: While covering themselves in glory, Hong Kong’s medal heroes also spread sporting joy throughout society


<p>The triathlon is a sport that will push you to your limits of endurance and test your competitive spirit to its maximum. For many, the very thought of doing three different sporting activities in one go is simply too off-putting, too much of a test of physical stamina. But for others, the sense of overcoming great odds and of facing a supreme test of character is its great attraction. And it’s also a sport for all ages.</p>



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<p>“Anyone can challenge themselves, regardless of age, I have seen people in their 80s participating,” says Doron Grossman, an Australian in his 60s and a veteran of several Singapore triathlons, as well as the Busselton and Bintan half ironman events. Such is his sense of achievement from these activities that he would actively encourage anyone to participate in triathlons.</p>


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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What is a triathlon?</h3>



<p>The standard triathlon combines swimming, biking and running, usually in that order, although any multi-endurance event in which three different sports are completed consecutively can be considered a triathlon. There are common triathlon distances for different categories, from the supersprint, which in total equates to about seven miles, up to an Ironman, which is even harder and totals around 140 miles. The first recorded triathlon took place in San Diego in 1974 and it became an Olympic Sport in 2000 in Sydney.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why do people do it?</h3>



<p>There are known to be considerable physical, health and other benefits from training for and participating in triathlons. As you train for a triathlon, your body will adapt to increased workloads and upgrade its cardio-respiratory function.</p>



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<p>And this produces knock-on benefits. “I believe being physically fit assists in being mentally healthy and alert. Also, the endorphins that are produced really make you feel great about yourself. Participation also forces you to eat more healthily in order to fuel your body,” says Doron, who is also the managing director of a company involved in the insurance sector in Hong Kong.</p>


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<p>Some competitors experience a strong emotional charge during training and competitions. Others report an intense almost spiritual feeling of overcoming adversity and struggle and of feeling a great sense of achievement.</p>



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<p>Beyond that, there are a multitude of potential health benefits &#8211; lower bad (and higher good) cholesterol levels, reduced chance of strokes and heart attacks, lower blood pressure, reduced chance of diabetes, better overall body composition, and stronger bones to name but a few.</p>



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<p>There is also a social aspect, with Doron saying: “You also meet a lot of people as training partners or coaches that create a like-minded social circle.”</p>


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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The benefits of cross-training</h3>



<p>Triathlon involves three sports so inherently training for such an activity involves crosstraining and includes a variety of exercises in the training routine.</p>



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<p>This is also what makes training for triathlons so appealing for some, with the variety in the training routine reducing the burnout typically caused by concentrating on one type of exercise. Fitness can then become enjoyable and a lifestyle option. “The fact that it involves three disciplines makes training interesting. Many people get bored if they just run, bike or swim. By mixing it up, it keeps you motivated to train,” says Doron.</p>



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<p>Obviously, to compete in triathlons you need a certain level of competence in swimming, biking and running. For newcomers to the sport, it is the swimming part which often appears the most challenging, including for Doron, who actually had to learn to swim before he could take part in his first such event.</p>



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<p>Irrespective of any competitor’s individual goal, it is actually the training which is the most important aspect of a triathlon.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-1024x726.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75889" width="768" height="545" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-1024x726.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-scaled-200x142.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-scaled-800x567.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-395x280.jpg 395w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-768x544.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-1536x1089.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/super-league-womens-eliminator-singapore-©Super-League-Triathlon-1024x726-1-2048x1452.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Time – the biggest commitment </h3>



<p>“The biggest commitment is time. Training involves spending time training in all three disciplines as well as training for the transition, which is where you change gear from one discipline to another,” says Doron.</p>



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<p>The transition is the stage where competitors drop off equipment they no longer need and pick up equipment they require for the next stage of the triathlon. Some experts suggest bringing along more items rather than potentially missing something.</p>



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<p>Each individual athlete naturally has different strengths which affect their training routine. Training programs can be tailor-made to suit individual circumstances. “Personally, most of my training is concentrated around running, which is my greatest strength and I find that the cardiovascular fitness really helps with the bike. I also spend a few days a week swimming as that is my weakest sport and have to force myself to improve my technique as the fitness for swimming is already there.”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-75888" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-scaled-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-scaled-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lanzarote-volcano-triathlon-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Doron believes anyone considering participating will need to have a good level of cardiovascular fitness and be prepared to participate in some form of activity for approximately one hour at least five days a week.</p>



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<p>Obviously, there is the equipment necessary for the competition, which should be purchased with the idea of maximising comfort and efficiency for your training program and lifestyle. This equipment includes the right swimsuits, bike types, helmets and glasses, pedals, shoes, running apparel, nutrition belts, hydration systems and GPS watch amongst others.</p>



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<p>Ultimately, top-tier triathlon competitors can be driven people, the prime example being Leslie Paterson. She used every skill she learnt competing in the triathlon, sometimes overcoming great pain and adversity, to raise funds for an adaption of All Quiet On The Western Front (which recently won seven BAFTAs) after years of it being rejected by Hollywood. She even completed a triathlon in Costa Rica with a broken shoulder to help fund the project. Now, that’s dedication.</p>


Triathlon – the triple-sporting challenge open to everyone

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<p data-paragraph-id="paragraph_3E66A3C8-0F6C-6BE4-91DB-7850E9370478">&#8220;I cannot believe we are finally here. Many doubted this day would happen,&#8221; remarked Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee in his Opening Ceremony speech at the Tokyo Paralympics Games.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="zn-body__paragraph speakable" data-paragraph-id="paragraph_3E66A3C8-0F6C-6BE4-91DB-7850E9370478">Against all odds the delayed 16th Summer Paralympics are taking place in the presence of very few fans and amid rising fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in Japan. First held in 1964, Tokyo is the only city in the world to host the Paralympics twice. Hong Kong has already earned<strong> two&nbsp;bronze medals</strong> in table tennis and boccia (mixed individual) categories – whilst we&#8217;re hoping to clinch plenty more medals, a repeat success of the Olympic Games which concluded less than a month ago would be ideal – but, with&nbsp;24 athletes across just eight sporting categories, it is going to be a pretty tight run for the top honour.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-paragraph-id="paragraph_3E66A3C8-0F6C-6BE4-91DB-7850E9370478">Scroll below for all the highlights of the Paralympic Games and the unmissable events &#8211;&nbsp;</p>
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<p data-paragraph-id="paragraph_3E66A3C8-0F6C-6BE4-91DB-7850E9370478"><strong>The Hong Kong delegation</strong></p>
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<p data-paragraph-id="paragraph_3E66A3C8-0F6C-6BE4-91DB-7850E9370478"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-60696 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-21-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
<p data-paragraph-id="paragraph_3E66A3C8-0F6C-6BE4-91DB-7850E9370478">With a total of 126 medals till date, Hong Kong has enjoyed a remarkable streak at the Paralympic Games. Five years back in Rio, our medal haul of six – two golds, two silvers and two bronze – was considered a lackluster performance after the triumph of 2012 when Hong Kong’s Paralympians brought home 12 medals from London.&nbsp;</p>
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<p class="generic-article__body article-details-type--p content--p" data-v-48c7bdf6="" data-v-8c6f660e="">In 2021, the SAR has sent a delegation of 24 athletes, 4<span data-preserver-spaces="true">0 coaches, National Paralympic Committee representatives, and other delegation officials.</span>&nbsp;Athletes compete in eight sports – badminton, boccia, archery, equestrian, swimming, table tennis, athletics, and wheelchair fencing – hopes for outstanding honours are riding high.&nbsp;</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_60697" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-60697" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-60697 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-22-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-60697" class="wp-caption-text">17-year-old Wong Ting-ting after securing a bronze in the table tennis event</figcaption></figure></p>
<p class="generic-article__body article-details-type--p content--p" data-v-48c7bdf6="" data-v-8c6f660e=""><span data-preserver-spaces="true">17-year-old Paralympian,&nbsp;<strong>Wong Ting-ting</strong> claimed Hong Kong’s first medal, a bronze,&nbsp;</span>in women’s singles table tennis event. The young player won the first of a best-of-five match against current world number one, Russia&#8217;s veteran star&nbsp;<span data-preserver-spaces="true">Elena Prokofeva. She&nbsp;beat the Russian representative 11-9 in the first game, but lost 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 to the 50-year-old. Despite missing out on gold, support and praise has poured in from all quarters for the budding local athlete.&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="generic-article__body article-details-type--p content--p" data-v-48c7bdf6="" data-v-8c6f660e=""><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Wong Ting-ting made her debut at the Paralympic Games marvelously and outperformed veteran players, winning the first medal for Hong Kong at the Games. We are delighted and thrilled. Given her strong will and exceptional talent, I believe that she will reach new heights of sporting glory –&nbsp;<em><strong>Chief Executive, Carrie Lam in a statement to the press</strong></em></span></p>
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<p>Former world champion, <strong>Leung Yuk-wing</strong> has won the second bronze medal for Hong Kong at the Boccia Mixed Individual event beating&nbsp;China’s Zheng Yuansen 5-4 in the play-offs.&nbsp;&nbsp;A boccia prodigy, 36-year-old won two golds at the 2004 Athens Games, just a year after his initiation in the sport, a gold in Rio and now waiting for a top spot at the Tokyo Paralympics.&nbsp;</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_60702" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-60702" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-60702 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-23-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-60702" class="wp-caption-text">Leung Yuk-wing has won a total of five medals for Hong Kong at various Paralympic Games through the years, including four in individual events!</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>The other dominant forces to watch out for are&nbsp;<strong class="generic-article__body article-details-type--strong content--strong" data-v-48c7bdf6="">Alison Yu Chiu-yee </strong>who will participate in wheelchair fencing.<strong class="generic-article__body article-details-type--strong content--strong" data-v-48c7bdf6="">&nbsp;</strong>Yu is outstanding on the piste, with seven golds, three silver and a bronze since her Athens 2004 debut, she doesn&#8217;t need any introduction. <strong class="generic-article__body article-details-type--strong content--strong" data-v-48c7bdf6="">Ngai Ka-chuen,&nbsp;</strong>is a veteran in archery since 2009 but competing at the Paralympics for the first time, meanwhile 24-year-old&nbsp;<strong class="generic-article__body article-details-type--strong content--strong" data-v-48c7bdf6="">Natasha Tse Pui-ting, </strong>is hoping to cinch medals in equestrian category.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/tokyo-olympics-everything-need-know-about-hong-kong-medalists/">Add oil! Hong Kong athletes making history at Tokyo 2020 Olympics</a></strong></em></p>
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<p class="_h3_cuogz_1"><strong>Event highlights for Hong Kong athletes&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Bookmark these dates to cheer on local athletes:</p>
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<p><strong>Archery: </strong>August 27 to September 4<br />
<strong>Athletics: </strong>August 27 to September 5<br />
<strong>Boccia: </strong>August 28 to September 4<br />
<strong>Equestrian: </strong>August 25 to 30<br />
<strong>Swimming: </strong>August 25 to September 3<br />
<strong>Table tennis: </strong>August 25 to September 3<br />
<strong>Wheelchair fencing:</strong> August 25 to 29<br />
<strong>Badminton: </strong>September 1 to 5</p>
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<div class="_imageContainer_1wubv_33"><b>History of Paralympics</b></div>
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<div><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-60703" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Untitled-design-24-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a></div>
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<div>Founded by Sir Ludwig Guttman as rehabilitation exercises for World War II veterans, the first edition of the Paralympics was held in 1960 in Rome, a week after the main Olympics. Called the Stoke Mandeville Games at the time, it was a competition for just 400 wheelchair-bound athletes from 23 countries. The event was retrospectively called as the first Paralympic Games – contrary to popular belief, the name Paralympics does not come from ‘paralysis’ and ‘Olympics’, instead it was coined using the Greek preposition ‘para’, which means parallel or alongside.</div>
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<div>Today, that multi-sporting event has become the pinnacle of athletic achievement for people with physical disabilities – in 2021, 539 events across 22 different sports are taking place in Tokyo.&nbsp;Badminton and taekwondo are being introduced at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics for the first time.</div>
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<div>Keen to catch all the action live? NowTV, RTHK, i-Cable and HK Open TV are all showing the Games on television as well as on their online platforms. Highlights can be viewed on their Facebook pages.&nbsp;</div>
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<div><em><strong>Also Read: <a href="//www.gafencushop.com/heroes-of-hong-kong-medal-haulers-of-tokyo-olympics-2020/">Heroes of Hong Kong- Medal haulers of Tokyo Olympics 2020</a></strong></em></div>
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Tokyo Paralympics: Hong Kong athletes haul medals in Japan

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets training accessories feature image

The Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance

<p>October is such a fun month, isn&#8217;t it? The weather is perfect (not too hot, not too cold) and there is a lot of festivity in the air. For Hong Kongers, not only is there the Mid-Autumn Festival at the beginning of the month, but also a horde of events throughout the month. Whether you are a music lover, a food aficionado or a sports freak,&nbsp;there&#8217;s something for everyone this October.&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="line-height: 24px;"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27319 aligncenter" style="line-height: 24px;" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ABBA-Mania.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></p>
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<p><strong>ABBA Tribute Show</strong></p>
<p>Tribute group ABBA MANIA returns to Hong Kong, which means it’s time to break out the flared trousers and have the time of your life. Recreating the final 1979 concert of its sensational Swedish namesake, Abba Mania will take audiences on a vibrant journey through song and dance.</p>
<p>28-29 October<br />
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts<br />
1, Gloucester Road, Wan Chai<br />
HK$295-HK$695<br />
lunchbox-productions.com</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-27321 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Marco-Polo-Bierfest.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></p>
<p><strong>Marco Polo Bierfest</strong></p>
<p>For its 25th consecutive year, Marco Polo Hong Kong brings gourmands the most authentic German beer and cuisine. With a view overlooking Victoria Harbour, guests can expect a range of traditional German weissbier and dunkel.<br />
Expect things to take a turn for the sillier as the festival features performances from the Notenhobler Band – the official Marco Polo Bierfest band since 1994. Rumour has it that one of the staples in their musical repertoire is the Chicken Dance.</p>
<p>20 October-11 November<br />
Viewing platform, Level 6, Marco Polo Hong Kong<br />
Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon<br />
HK$120-HK$280<br />
gbfhk.com</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27320 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco-187x280.jpg" alt="" width="341" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco-500x750.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco-400x600.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Flamenco.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 341px) 100vw, 341px" /></p>
<p><strong>The Roots of Flamenco</strong></p>
<p>The living tradition of Flamenco arrives in Hong Kong with a world tour featuring two of the art form’s biggest proponents, Sonia Olla and Ismael Fernández.<br />
Flamenco’s “Golden Couple”, whose performances New York Times critic Brian Seibert called “a furnace of earthy sensuality”, will stage a two-day show with accompaniment from world-renowned pianist Chano Dominguez.</p>
<p>11-12 October, 8pm<br />
Lecture Hall, Sheung Wan<br />
Civic Centre<br />
HK$300-HK$580<br />
rootsofflamenco.com</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-27322 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Naked-Magicians.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></p>
<p><strong>The Naked Magicians</strong></p>
<p>Aussie comedy veterans The Naked Magicians return to Hong Kong this month with their critically acclaimed live show featuring full-frontal illusions and hilarious innuendo. The dashing duo performs an array of classic magic routines while stripping down to nothing but top hats and capes. Decidedly R-rated, the show guarantees plenty of laughs on your next group date.</p>
<p>25-27 October, 8pm<br />
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts<br />
1, Gloucester Road,<br />
Wan Chai<br />
HK$395-HK$595<br />
nakedmagicians.com</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-27324 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Aida.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></p>
<p><strong>Verdi’s Aϊda</strong></p>
<p>Celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the HKSAR’s establishment continue this month with the arrival of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aϊda. Notable for its four-act structure and central place in the operatic canon, this production is the result of a new collaboration between the Shanghai Opera House and Opera Hong Kong.<br />
China’s brightest contributors to the operatic arts are represented, with singers He Hui and Hao Jiang Tian among them. Aficionados of Verdi’s works can also expect an exciting accompaniment harnessing the talents of mainland China’s best orchestras, including the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra.</p>
<p>10-15 October, 7:30pm<br />
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre<br />
HK$150-HK$1,080<br />
operahongkong.org</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-27323 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-420x280.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tennis-Open.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /></p>
<p><strong>Tennis Open 2017</strong></p>
<p>The atmosphere is thick with anticipation as some of the biggest names in professional women’s tennis prepare to return to Hong Kong for the 2017 WTA Tour. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams is joined by former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, in addition to a host of other leading players from the Asia-Pacific region. Be sure to catch a few of the tournament’s first and qualifying rounds, as admission is free on a first-come first-served basis.</p>
<p>7-15 October<br />
Victoria Park,<br />
Causeway Bay<br />
HK$160-HK$880<br />
hktennisopen.hk</p>


What to do and see in Hong Kong this October

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chinese New Year has come and gone and the Hong Kong community has ushered in the Year of the Rooster.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, while everyone enjoyed the fireworks that lit up Victoria Harbour and the plethora of gifts and lai see packets they received, it’s now the time of year to shed the pounds after days of feasting on the not so healthy groups of the food pyramid.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That being said, we are not asking you to run the equivalent of the Hong Kong marathon every day or swim the distance of the annual cross-harbour race.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, here are five simple and relaxing activities you can enjoy with your family that will enable you to get rid of any extra weight you gained during the festive period.</span></p>
<p><strong>Badminton</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-16336 size-medium" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton-373x280.jpg" width="373" height="280" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton-373x280.jpg 373w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton-200x150.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton-400x300.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Badminton.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not only is this family friendly, but you can almost dictate the pace at which it is played. From rallies to games up to twenty one points, it’s your call on how much you want to do. In regards to where to play, <a href="http://www.pacificclub.com.hk/" target="_blank">Pacific Club in Tsim Sha Tsui </a>and <a href="http://www.aberdeenmarinaclub.com/" target="_blank">Aberdeen Marina Club</a> are the places to get your game on in style.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to this, you can also enjoy a serene view of the Hong Kong skyline. Plus, your family won’t have any reason to complain about why you spend so little time with them! </span></p>
<p><strong>Golf</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-16337 size-medium" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-375x280.jpg" alt="Golfer_swing" width="375" height="280" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-375x280.jpg 375w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-200x149.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-800x598.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-768x574.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-400x299.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing-600x448.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Golfer_swing.jpg 803w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s better than soaking in some sun, having vast open scenic spots around you and competing in a calm round of golf. <a href="http://www.hkgolfclub.org/" target="_blank">Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling</a>, which has hosted the Hong Kong Open since 1959, and the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.kscgolf.org.hk/index-e.asp" target="_blank">Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau</a> Public Golf Course in Sai Kung are two perfect places to do this. With luscious nine- and eighteen-hole courses prepared for beginners and advanced players, it’s</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> a brilliant way to spend an afternoon with the family and find out whether you are the next Tiger Woods or Lydia Ko! </span></p>
<p><strong>Hiking</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-16338 size-medium" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Hiking-429x280.jpg" alt="Hiking" width="429" height="280" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sticking to the theme of beautiful scenery, hiking is another activity that is fun for the family and will surely get the heart pumping and the fat burning. With a number of hikes to choose from, including the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail, Dragon’s Back and the renowned Lion Rock hike, you may stumble upon old villages, breathtaking views, cooling rock pools and yes, even white sandy beaches. So why not reward all that hard work by soaking in some culture or wading in the cool, crystal clear waters. </span></p>
<p><strong>Swimming</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-16339 size-medium" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-420x280.jpg" alt="Swimming" width="420" height="280" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swimming.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking about wading in the water, another leisurely activity is a good, old-fashioned swim. Hong Kong has plenty of beautiful pools and private clubs to choose from, so there is no excuse not to dive in. Particularly splash-worthy is the <a href="https://hongkong.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/activities/hotel-activities/pool.html" target="_blank">Grand Hyatt’s </a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">rooftop pool</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, complete with sea view and the <a href="http://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/hong-kong/conrad-hong-kong-HKGHCCI/amenities/sports-fitness.html" target="_blank">Conrad’s </a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">pool and deck</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in Admiralty. In addition to working on your cardio, you’ll be strengthening your core and building muscle. Even better, both these plush choices offer shaded cabanas, perfect for a post-work out relax.</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Tai Chi</span></strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-16340 size-medium" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi-373x280.jpg" alt="Tai Chi" width="373" height="280" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi-373x280.jpg 373w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi-200x150.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi-400x300.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tai-Chi.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you ever looked out the window and seen groups of elderly people doing, what may seem like, weird movements to the drone of old-school Chinese songs blaring from a radio? If so, then what you are witnessing is the ancient tradition of Tai Chi.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thought to have originated anywhere between 700 to 1500 years ago, the art of Tai Chi is used predominantly as a way to help alleviate stress and anxiety, while also finding inner peace.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sounds good right? So why not give it a try, especially as the Hong Kong Tourism Board runs a Tai Chi class four days a week in front of the Museum of Art, which is a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Victoria Harbour. </span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Bimal Mirwani</span></em></p>


5 ways to boost your fitness in Hong Kong

<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-1857 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport101-600x403.jpg" alt="sport101" width="876" height="600" /></p>
<p>Over the years, it’s fair to say, Brazil’s performance at the Olympics has been far from brilliant. In fact, the biggest haul of gold medals it’s ever received at a single Games is just five – in Athens 12 years ago. More tellingly, on 15 occasions, it failed to take the top slot in any event whatsoever.</p>
<p>This month, though, with the Games being held on their home soil, hopes are high that it can improve on its dismal record to date.  Most obviously, the country will be looking for medals in some of their stronger sports, notably football, sailing and open-water swimming. Most of all, however, it’s pinning its hopes for glory on two young women in crop tops and bikini bottoms – a pair known simply as Larissa and Talita.</p>
<p>More formally known as Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes de Rocha, the two are national heroines. Currently considered to be the best female beach volleyball pair in the world, they will be the favourites and number one seeds when their event kicks off on the golden sands of Rio’s Cocacabana Beach.</p>
<p>Success in beach volleyball requires a partnership based on an intuitive knowledge of one another’s game – a unique connection that normally only comes after playing together for a very long time. Larissa and Talita, though, have been team-mates for just two years.</p>
<p>Both had previously tasted success with other partners – Larissa in particular. She enjoyed an eight-year collaboration with Juliana Silva, a beach volleyball legend in her own right. Together, this twosome notched up six world tour titles, two Pan-American Games gold medals, one world championship title and a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.</p>
<p>It was just after that last Olympics, though, that the pair split up, with Larissa determined to walk away from the sport and start a family. Speaking at the time, she said: “I am a little anxious. I knew this moment would come and it will be tough to go through with it. I will cry, but my tears will be of happiness and gratitude for everything beach volleyball has given me.”</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1863 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport102-600x423.jpg" alt="sport102" width="600" height="423" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport102-600x423.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport102-200x141.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport102-400x282.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport102.jpg 607w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
<p>In the end, she spent little more than a year away from the sport before returning. Claiming the lure of competition was just too much for her, she says: ““I play beach volleyball simply because it is my favourite sport. It just works perfectly for me.</p>
<p>“I really love playing – feeling the adrenalin on the court while facing a difficult rival and seeing how many people have come to support me.  The feeling you get is just awesome. I can’t really explain how it feels to have so much adrenalin. I believe there’s nothing else that could give me give this kind of adventure.</p>
<p>“Children seek me out, just to ask for an autograph, then they tell me: ‘One day, I just want to be like you.’ I love the feeling of being a hero. It’s inspiring for any athlete.”</p>
<p>She first took to the sport in 2001 while still a teenager, having switched from indoor volleyball. While she had been awarded one of the most prestigious school scholarships to play the indoor version, she knew it was not for her. She says: “I’m really too short for indoor volleyball. I then decided to change to beach volleyball and I’ve been very happy with my decision. I started playing without knowing where I would end up. At first, I was thinking of playing for just two years. Overall, though, it has worked out great for me.”</p>
<p>That is something of an understatement. In the 15 years since she took to the sport, she’s won 57 gold medals on the FIVB (beach volleyball’s international federation) world tour. She’s also claimed victory in more than 1,000 matches and notched up more than 100 tournament wins.</p>
<p>Above and beyond that, she’s won the Brazilian championship five times, been world tour points winner eight times and taken gold in the 2011 world championships in Rome. Last year, she scooped the inaugural world tour grand finals title. Far and away, she’s the most decorated woman in beach volleyball history.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1864 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport103-600x374.jpg" alt="sport103" width="600" height="374" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport103-600x374.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport103-200x125.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport103-400x249.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport103.jpg 687w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
<p>She puts her astonishing success down to determination and an iron will to win, saying: “I’m a perfectionist. I don’t accept mistakes and I work really hard. I dedicate ten hours or more a day to beach volleyball. This sport has a physical, a psychological and a technical aspect. So you really have to look after your body. I also spend many hours a day just thinking about the sport.”</p>
<p>By nature a relaxed and something of a private person, she admits that her personality changes once she starts playing. She says: “When I walk on the court, I’m transformed. The four lines of the court make me a totally different person.  Focus is essential. I have to know everything I can, especially what my opponent will do during a match. I have to be inside my opponent’s head.</p>
<p>“That’s what makes me strong and so passionate. It’s also why I sometimes speak in such strong terms to my partner. There are moments during a match when I have to stop and say to myself: ‘Calm down, Larissa, keep calm. Things will work out, be patient. It will improve.’</p>
<p>“On court, I’m a warrior. I never give up. I don’t accept defeat. I hate to lose. I don’t even like to lose the coin toss at the start of the match.”</p>
<p>Given that burning desire to win, many were surprised when she decided to quit the sport in the wake of the London Olympics. Speaking of the end of her partnership with Silva, she says: “It was sad to bring an end to something that had achieved so much. I’m happy to have made a decision that I am certain was right. It won’t change anything about our place in history.”</p>
<p>She made the most of her time away, coming out as gay and marrying her long-time girlfriend, Liliane Maestrini, a fellow Brazilian beach volleyball player. While this move which may have disappointed her legions of male fans, it attracted a heart-warming lack of controversy in Brazil, a country where same-sex unions have been legal for more than a decade.</p>
<p>Speaking of her decision to take time out from volleyball, she says: “The break was good for me. I was in need of some rest time. I took care of myself and followed my dreams and wishes. I spent more time with my family and took care of the things I hadn’t had time for previously, notably my marriage. Now I find I have renewed energy.”</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1866 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport104-366x600.jpg" alt="sport104" width="366" height="600" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport104-366x600.jpg 366w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport104-200x328.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport104-400x655.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport104.jpg 428w" sizes="(max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px" /></p>
<p>The availability of Talita made her return to the sport all the easier. Talita, an experienced and accomplished player in her own right, had recently parted company with Maria Antonelli, her former partner, and was looking for someone new to team up with.</p>
<p>As fate would have it, Antonelli had left to forge a new partnership with Juliana Silva. It would be understandable, then, if Talita were to feel a measure of karmic satisfaction from an outcome that has seen her outshine her former team-mate. In truth, though, there seems to be little bitterness, with Talita simply saying: “Maria and I had had four years of success. We had more pleasure than sadness. The cycle came to an end, though, and we finished it in a good way.”</p>
<p>Speaking of her new partner, Larissa says: “I hadn’t been thinking of coming back. Then I started to feel the urge, and the possibility of forming a team with Talita came up. We are a great pair and I believe that we have a number of characteristics that make us a champion team.”</p>
<p>The two certainly seem to complement each other extremely well.  Last year, the duo made beach volleyball history, when their 61 consecutive victories broke the previous record – a record held by Larissa and Juliana.</p>
<p>In total, they were victorious in seven of the nine FIVB tournaments they competed in. After winning the FIVB World Tour grand finals, Larissa was declared the world’s best player during the organisation’s annual awards. Talita also picked up an award, having been voted best spiker of the ball.</p>
<p>Of their near-instant success, Larissa says: “We had an exceptional year. We always hoped we would form a strong team and compete for titles. In the end, the results came quickly and consistently, showing our planning was right.</p>
<p>“The awards were special to me. The FIVB World Tour is the best of the best playing against each other every week. Beach volleyball, though, is a team sport and I share my awards with Talita. She has been an amazing teammate for me. We won these awards together. While the competition was fierce, when we were on the court, we were truly a force to be reckoned with.”</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1867 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport105-600x397.jpg" alt="sport105" width="600" height="397" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport105-600x397.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport105-200x132.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport105-400x265.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sport105.jpg 647w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
<p>Now the pair are focusing on the one honour missing from Larissa’s CV – an Olympic gold medal. Admitting that this was one of the prime reasons she decided to make a comeback, she says: “The chance to compete in the Olympic Games in your home country is every athlete’s dream. It’s no different in my case. The force and energy of Brazilian fans is impossible to describe.</p>
<p>“Without a doubt, it would be one of the milestones of my career. Winning an Olympic gold, alongside my family and friends, would be indescribable. I will do everything I can to bring home this medal for my team and for all of Brazil.”</p>
<p>The pair qualified for the Games last September after taking on another strong Brazilian pairing. This saw them beat Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas in a marathon three-set game before a packed stadium on the Cocacabana Beach.</p>
<p>The two pairs could well soon meet again – in the Olympic final. Larissa says: “The Brazilian teams at the Olympics will be very strong. In fact, a number of strong teams will be left out, simply because of the limited number of places available.</p>
<p>“Brazil has many good teams, all of which vie for medals in the World Tour. Now we have to think about our team. We have to focus and always give our best. This should ensure that good results continue to come our way.”</p>
<p>Talita, too, is clear about the need to concentrate solely on preparing themselves for the Games. She says: “Since we won in Rio, we have devoted ourselves to training for the Olympics. From late last year, we started to pace ourselves a little. We wanted to be focused on Rio this year. We have had good results, something that shows how much we are on track.”</p>
<p>She is also adamant that the pressure of being the favourites to take gold will only boost their chances. She says: ““It is important. It boosts our confidence. Favourites are confirmed on court &#8211; we need to maintain the focus all the time.”</p>
<p>If they can do that, and maintain the outstanding form they showed last season, then it seems only likely that – this time, at least &#8211; Brazilian sports fans really will have something to cheer about at the Olympics.</p>


Volley of the Dolls

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<p>He conquered the heady heights of Mont Ventoux during the Tour de France. He successfully scaled the dizzying Alpine climbs of the Giro d’Italia on his way to securing cycling’s greatest prize. This month, though, Chris Froome faces a far more daunting challenge.</p>
<p>In 2015, he claimed the Tour de France title for the second time in three years. Now he is returning to the race once more. This time he hopes to be the first rider in a generation to mount a successful defence of the trophy. It is a feat that has not been managed – legally at least – since Miguel Indurain, the legendary Spanish cyclist, clocked up a stunning five consecutive victories between 1991 and 1995.</p>
<p>If that wasn’t hard enough, Froome will then be going for gold at the Rio Olympics. This will see him compete in two notoriously arduous events – the road race and the time trial. All of this less than a fortnight after he’s due to cross the finishing line on Paris’ Champs Elysees.</p>
<p>Froome, though, is under absolutely no illusions as to the enormity of the task that he has actually set for himself. He says: “It’s certainly a massive goal and I think I’m just going to have to take each event as it comes. It’s exciting, though. It&#8217;s really very exciting.</p>
<p>“The main focus for me is, once again, the Tour de France. Just on the back of that, though, we have the Olympic road race in Rio. A few days later and it’s the Olympic time trial.”</p>
<p>“Both the road race and the time trial suit me well. The time trial involves more than a thousand metres of climbing. That’s going to be tough. It’s also over 50 kilometres. For an individual time trial, that is a long event.”</p>
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<p>Retaining the Tour de France title and taking two Olympic golds, all within the space of a few weeks, might seem a near-impossible task. If anyone could pull off such an astonishing treble, though, Froome would be the most likely man to achieve it. After all, this Kenyan-born cyclist seems to have spent most of his life overcoming what seem like the most insurmountable obstacles.</p>
<p>As a child, his first cycling experiences took place against the stunning backdrop of the Great Rift Valley, the intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south. Recalling when he knew he had fallen in love with the sport, he says: “It was my eighth birthday and I was out on my bike with a group of friends. We descended for about 30 kilometres. I remember getting up to speeds that scared the living daylight out of me.</p>
<p>“And then it happened. An amazing sensation, feeling the wind rushing, and being able to do it all on my own. No car, no mummy or daddy driving you anywhere. Just me in control. And I really loved that.”</p>
<p>It was to become an obsession. At the age of 13, after his first competitive race – he won, despite being knocked down by his mother, who had insisted on driving alongside him to keep him safe – he was introduced to David Kinjah, at the time, Kenya’s only international cyclist. Obviously sensing a kindred spirit, Kinjah agreed to coach him.</p>
<p>Even today, Kenya’s competitive cycling infrastructure is pretty basic. Back then, it was virtually non-existent. Kinjah ran his rudimentary training programme from a small corrugated iron hut in the tiny hillside village of Mai-a-Ihii. Lacking even running water, it boasted only a pair of basic bunk beds and a rudimentary toilet. Froome, though, would spend weeks there at a time. It was here that he would push himself to the limit on ferocious high-altitude training rides, all astride a battered mountain bike that had clearly, long ago, seen better days.</p>
<p>Today, remembering that shy, slight teenager he first encountered Kinjah says: “Chris would barely say a word to me. I didn’t imagine he would be a serious rider. Then he came here and I could see it in his eyes. This was what he wanted.”</p>
<p>Froome was very much the odd one out among Kinjah’s older, tougher, more experienced protégés. Acknowledging this, Kinjah says: “We were hard-core village guys, not afraid to ride against the traffic. It was a sport for kids who could shout at car drivers. I thought it would be a problem for him. As it turned out, he wasn’t scared of anything.</p>
<p>“We would do rides of 200km. Too difficult for him really, but he never gave up. If we tried to get him to stop early, he would always complain. He’d say: ‘I’m going to finish…’ He never lacked courage.”</p>
<p>Froome’s own recollections paint a similar picture. He says: “It was pretty brutal. If I look back, I wouldn’t tell any 13-year-old to follow in my footsteps. I was the only white kid there and I got a hard time from some of the others. It was always fun, though, and I absolutely idolised them.</p>
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<p>“I just wanted to get to the point where I could keep up with the other kids on a ride. They would all drop me. I couldn’t keep up with any of them. I would be absolutely finished. But I loved it.”</p>
<p>After moving to South Africa to live with his father, Froome began road-racing competitively. His natural talent – hardened by all the work he’d put in on mountain roads – soon blossomed. Despite this, he still returned to Kenya to continue training with Kinjah. In fact, it was his mentor who helped him make his international debut, overcoming the initial reluctance of the Kenyan cycling federation.</p>
<p>Kinjah says: “The federation wasn’t going to select Chris for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. In the end, we said to them: ‘If he’s not in the team, we’ll go on strike.’ So they decided to include him.”</p>
<p>It was his highly creditable performance in the Games that encouraged Froome to turn professional. The major teams, though, were uninterested in a relatively unknown young African rider. In the end, it took months of emails and calls to secure him a deal with Barloworld, a relatively small British-based outfit.</p>
<p>He then moved to Italy to compete on the prestigious European tour. His first few years proved something of a struggle. He was desperate to make a name for himself while, all the time, competing against far better-equipped cyclists.</p>
<p>In all, it took him two years to secure his first professional win. By this time, though, his performances had already caught the eye of one of the most senior figures in the cycling world – David Brailsford, British cycling supremo and principal of Team Sky, a quite new and elite squad.</p>
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<p>In truth, Brailsford had been following Froome’s career since the Commonwealth Games. Explaining his interest, he says: “I watched his time trial there. This was a guy from nowhere, he gave this really phenomenal performance. I was like: ‘Bloody hell, who IS this young guy?’”</p>
<p>In 2010, Froome duly joined Team Sky. This required him to switch his international allegiance to the UK – a country he was qualified to represent through his grandparents’ nationality. His first performances in his new colours, though, were patchy and with quite good reason.</p>
<p>It was discovered he was suffering from bilharzia, a parasitic water-borne disease. As it affects the body’s red blood cells, it is a condition that is particularly debilitating for cyclists.</p>
<p>Put on medication to control it, his performances rapidly picked up. He was part of the British team that won the world road race championship in 2011. He even acted as chief domestique to the victorious Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour de France, nursing his team-mate over the mountain stages and finishing second himself. A few weeks later, he took bronze in the time trial at the London Olympics.</p>
<p>In fact, his form was so good that he was selected to lead Team Sky in the 2013 Tour de France. His power in the mountains took him to an emphatic victory. One particular stage win, when he destroyed two of his rivals – Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana – on Mont Ventoux, summed up his dominance. At the time, one French sports newspaper described him as pedalling so fast up the steep slope it was “as if his chain had snapped.”</p>
<p>Recalling that epic climb, Froome says: “I had to go onto an oxygen inhaler at the finish. My lungs had shut down. My legs were burning. My back was aching. I thought, though, if I was feeling like that, then I&#8217;m sure the other guys must be feeling worse. I told myself: ‘This is why you’ve done all that training and all that preparation. This climb is what counts. This is where I’m going to win the Tour de France.’”</p>
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<p>The following year, a crash robbed him of the chance of defending his title. In 2015, though, he once again dominated the course. In fact, such was his performance that the French media openly discussed the suggestion that success was more down to pharmaceuticals than hard work.</p>
<p>The insinuations became so widespread that Team Sky took the unusual step of releasing Froome’s medical data to show that he was clean. Today, he is relaxed about the controversy, saying: “It’s actually perfectly understandable given the way people have been deceived over past Tours. I certainly share the frustration with that.</p>
<p>“The sport has moved past that era now. Anti-doping measures have been strengthened hugely. Some days, during the Tour, I was being checked up on three times a day – both blood and urine tests. That gives you a little bit of an idea of what kind of policing now goes on within the sport.”</p>
<p>Indeed, the sets of tests carried out on Froome after the 2015 tour proved that it is his astonishing physiology – rather than any drugs – that allows him to perform with such amazing power and stamina. His maximum heart rate of 165 beats per minute, for instance, is significantly lower than that of most other top cyclists. This alone allows him to carry on when others have to drop out.</p>
<p>This month, he returns to France, hoping that the tests and Team Sky’s own data will have ended any such speculation about him. This would leave him free to concentrate on a third Tour win – a result that would cement his position among cycling’s true greats.</p>
<p>After that, there is then the chance of Olympic glory. Froome, however, remains cautious.</p>
<p>He says: “As with anything in cycling, it’s really difficult to plan too far ahead. You never know just what is going to happen along the way.</p>
<p>“At this point, I just have to consider the Tour de France and say: ‘I need to be ready.’ After that, I will just take everything as it comes.”</p>


Tag: sports