Teary Sarah Lee is crowned Hong Kong’s best athlete for record fourth time
Hong Kong’s ace cyclist is recognised at a glittering Sports Oscars thanks to her exploits at the World Cup series in Netherlands
A tearful Sarah Lee Wai-sze reflected on a career that has exceeded her humble expectations after she was crowned Hong Kong’s best athlete for a record fourth time at the annual Sports Stars Award in a glittering ceremony in Wan Chai on Tuesday night.
Lee, who fell during the keirin event at the Rio Olympics to miss out on a medal, joined the Hong Kong Sports Institute as a full-time athlete 13 years ago and never thought at the time whether she would make an impact on the world cycling scene let alone make a living from the sport.
But she was recognised as Hong Kong’ s best athlete again for 2016, winning the Best-of-the-best Sports Stars Award and setting a new record in the process having won the accolade in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Another cyclist, men’s champion Wong Kam-po, won three top awards in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
While receiving her latest award at the Grand Hall at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Hong Kong’s sports version of the “Oscars”, Lee said the past 13 years as a full-time athlete had been a continuous learning curve.