A winner on, off the piste

Rachael Ng

Vivian Kong is just as accomplished academically and in the arts.

Kong graduated from Stanford University's international relations program in California and received a master's degree at Renmin University of China.

She is now pursuing a juris doctor from Chinese University of Hong Kong and wishes to work at the United Nations.

Moving to Canada with her parents at the age of two and returning to Hong Kong four years later, Kong studied at ESF's Sha Tin College and engaged in many activities such as playing the piano and guzheng - a Chinese plucked zither - and painting.

But she likes combat sports the most. Her story with fencing began when her father brought her to a kendo club at the age of 11 and told her that "fencing is the ballet in combat sports."

It was a bit difficult convincing her mother, who had hoped she would pursue a career as a "beautiful and elegant ballet dancer."

At the age of 14, Kong won a gold medal for the Hong Kong team in the Asian Youth Fencing Championships.

It was also promising on the academic end - she scored 41 out of 45 points in her International Baccalaureate Diploma exams.

In 2012, she entered Stanford University, the most elite school on the US West Coast, majoring in international relations and minoring in psychology.

Kong faced a dilemma in her fencing career after her graduation from Stanford, with her parents hoping she would find "safe and stable work."

But Kong insisted on being a full-time fencer. Not long after, her sports feats helped her get selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2021 in Hong Kong.

Despite her packed training schedule, Kong said sleeping is her favorite leisure activity.

She also enjoys watching Korean dramas, with her favorite actor being 36-year-old Kim Soo Hyun.

Kong also began a "seafood vegetarian" diet in 2012 and became a full vegetarian in 2017.

Her career has not always been smooth.

She has experienced many serious injuries and suffered ACL - anterior cruciate ligament - damage in both knees, leading her to contemplate retirement from the sport.

Before heading to the Paris Olympics, her left knee was also injured at the Asian Championship last month.

But Kong said she does not readily give up - and this showed when she made an epic comeback in the final of the gold medal match yesterday.