Here is a look at their groundbreaking achievements – who are they, what did they accomplish, and where are they now?

Lee Lai-shan

Born on the outlying island of Cheung Chau, Lee was introduced to the sport when she was 12 by her uncle, Lai Gun, who operates a windsurfing centre and beachside cafe on the island and who she credits for her Olympic success. She later joined the Hong Kong team in 1989, where she met her husband and fellow Olympian, Sam Wong Tak-sum.

At the age of 25, Lee took part in her second Olympics in Atlanta, with the sailing events held in Savannah on the Georgia coast. Before that, Lee was a regular on the international scene and had already won numerous awards, including the world title and a silver medal at the Asian Games in 1990.

Despite being stung by a jellyfish before the start of the opening race, which left her with a swollen leg, she managed to turn her negative emotions into motivation. She took third in that race and stayed ahead of the pack for the rest of the competition to take gold.

Lee captured the hearts of fans when she tearfully said “Hong Kong athletes are not rubbish!” – an iconic quote that Hongkongers still recall to this day.

After winning the gold medal, Lee and Wong focused on a sports management course at Australia’s University of Canberra. She also continued to compete in international events and eventually retired after her final Olympics appearance, where she finished fourth in Athens in 2004.

Lee, 50, is now a full-time mother of two daughters. The retired windsurfer is still active, working out at home and playing badminton to keep fit.

“Being a mother is challenging … there is no instruction manual to teach you how to raise a child. Each child has different personalities, and you have to adapt to their needs,” she said in an interview with the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2019.

“My biggest hope is that they have a happy childhood. I also hope that they can find their own paths and goals,” she added.

She told the Post that the Hong Kong team have a good chance to win medals in Tokyo. She named cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, swimmer Siobhan Haughey, gymnast Stone Shek Wai-hung and fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai as leading hopes.

“Our table tennis, badminton and windsurfing athletes also stand a good chance of winning medals,” she said. “The Hong Kong sporting scene is becoming more exciting with significant improvements at all ends.”

Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching

Born in the mainland, the “Table Tennis Twins” were once teammates in the Guangdong squad. After leaving the China national team in 2000, they were invited by Hong Kong coach Chan Kong-wah to continue their careers in the city. At the time, it was common for Hong Kong to “import” players from the mainland and the pair were quick to accept this new challenge.

The pair finished second in Athens in 2004, winning Hong Kong’s first Olympic medal after the 1997 handover. They went on to capture a host of medals at regional events with a breakthrough coming at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha when they took gold. The pair described the Asian Games triumph as the peak of their careers.

“I believe that the Chinese team will bag all five gold medals but I also look forward to seeing the Hong Kong team clinch a medal of some colour,” Li told the Post. He said he has high hopes for the mixed doubles pair of Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem.

While table tennis remains a pastime for Li, he said he was more into sports such as football, tennis and billiards. He is also confident in the city’s sporting future with the government showing more interest in developing sports and providing financial support.

“The sports sector was one of the beneficiaries during the pandemic because the government continued to contribute money and support us during difficult times,” he said. “[With the government’s support], there are more full-time athletes in the industry and this allows them to focus on their sports without having to worry about funding.”

Both Olympians said the silver medal they won in Athens helped to forge a lifelong friendship. Apart from working at the Institute, they often dine and hang out together.

Sarah Lee Wai-sze

Growing up in a public housing estate in Ngau Tau Kok, Sarah Lee took the hard road to success. Hong Kong’s world champion track cyclist has overcome numerous obstacles on her way to the top, the high point being a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the keirin.

Her career almost came to an abrupt halt in 2006, two years after she graduated from high school and became a full-time athlete. Trying to avoid a dog during a training ride, Lee fell heavily and broke her left wrist. She was told at the time that she would never ride again.

Even her coach suggested that she quit but Lee refused to give up. She worked hard to regain her strength, and proved herself in a series of international competitions before standing on the podium in London with the bronze medal around her neck. She became the second Hong Kong athlete to win an individual medal and is now aiming to become the first to win a medal in separate Olympics when she competes in Tokyo.

Since 2012, Lee has grown in stature and is among the top women’s track cyclists in the world. In 2013, she claimed her first “rainbow jersey” – an honour for world champions only – after winning a gold medal in the 500-metre time trial at the UCI Track World Championships.

Lee was favoured for a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics but suffered a crash in the keirin semi-finals.

The 34-year-old Lee warmed up for the Tokyo Games by winning one gold and one silver at the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup in May in Hong Kong, her first competitive outing for more than 14 months of no competition.

“There were too many things happening this year because of Covid-19,” she said after the Nations Cup. “It’s caused us to not have any feelings. But to compete at such a unique event is also a milestone in itself. You don’t even need to think about medals and things. Doing the best I can in this environment will mean I have already succeeded.”