Tokyo Olympics: Sarah Lee poised to write perfect closing chapter on Hong Kong’s greatest Games

The 34-year-old times her run to the medal stages to perfection and is within touching distance of a sixth medal for Hong Kong

‘There will be pressure but an experienced rider like Lee knows how to turn pressure into motivation,’ says coach Shen

Reading Time:3 minutes

Sarah Lee Wai-sze gets the better of Katy Marchant of Great Britain in their quarter-final of the sprint at Izu Velodrome in Japan. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:01pm, 7 Aug 2021Updated: 11:34pm, 7 Aug 2021

Just as the murmurs grew louder about Tokyo 2020 being a campaign too far for veteran Hong Kong rider Sarah Lee Wai-sze, the London 2012 Olympic medal hero delivered a soaring performance on Saturday to silence her doubters and book her spot in the sprint semi-finals at the Izu Velodrome.

Lee now has the chance to compete for a second Olympic medal on what is likely to be the last day of Olympic competition in her sparkling career, and grab a sensational sixth medal for Hong Kong.

These have long been the city’s most successful Games; that watermark was breached as early as day five when Siobhan Haughey powered her way to an incredible silver medal in the 200-metre freestyle – the first of two for the 23-year-old in Tokyo.

A sixth Olympic medal to add to Cheung Ka-long’s fencing gold, Haughey’s haul and bronze medals from the women’s table tennis team and karateka Grace Lau Mo-sheung, will have the Hong Kong mission to Tokyo in dreamland. At no point in the build-up to these delayed Games was the notion of six podium finishes even entertained.

Sarah Lee waits for the start of one of her heats on Saturday. Photo: Peter Parks

Now, Lee is potentially two sprint races away from another guaranteed silver medal and a place in history as Hong Kong’s first multi-Olympic medal winner.