Sarah Lee had no plan to compete at Tokyo Olympics but keirin crash in Rio changed everything
- Lee held in her emotions following the incident but burst into tears after Rio was over
- The veteran still feels powerful ahead of Tokyo next year, despite her advancing years
Track cycling star Sarah Lee Wai-sze had not planned to take part in the Tokyo Olympics, but the racing accident that ruined her Rio Games changed her mind, the Olympian has revealed on social media.
As coronavirus continues to spread in the city, Lee has ceased training after leaving a hotel in Tseung Kwan O where she and fellow teammates spent 14 days in isolation following their return from Switzerland after the World Championships in Berlin.
The veteran, who will turn 33 next month, had time to spare to share some of her experience.
“My original plan was not to take part in the Olympics (after Rio) but now I will have to embrace my third Olympics in Tokyo,” she said. “It’s not because of any resentment. I want to treasure the power given from above and maybe I can, one day, break the record of Olympic appearance set by Wong Kam-po (just kidding),” she said.
Lee, a committed Christian, debuted for Hong Kong at the 2012 London Games where she collected a bronze medal in the women’s keirin. Four years later in Rio, the in-form rider was robbed of a back-to-back keirin medal following a clash with Anna Meares of Australia in the second round. Lee could not finish the race and was forced to enter the “B” final where she came first and took seventh place overall.
