appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Josh Ball

Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world. Sign up now!
History, controversy and gold medals have seemingly gone hand in hand for China at the Paris Olympics, and we’re just a week in – was it really only last Saturday that the world was shaking its collective head at the French take on an opening ceremony?
Still, that’s water under one of the River Seine’s many bridges, and as usual the Games have thrilled and shocked in equal measure in the days in between.
In terms of history, Zheng Qinwen has already made some by becoming the first Chinese tennis player to win an Olympics singles final.
As has become custom, China won the first gold of the Games, with Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani taking the women’s synchronised 3-metre springboard within hours of the Olympics officially opening.
China are expected to sweep the diving events, and once Lian Junjie and Yang Hao grabbed the men’s synchronised 10m title, the one gold that eluded the team in Tokyo, that possibility only grew.


Shooting has been another area of dominance, with teenagers Huang Yuting and Shen Lihao grabbing three golds and a silver between them, and Jiayu Yang claimed the first athletics gold of the Games in the women’s 20km race walk.
History and controversy were side-by-side in the pool this week, with Pan Zhanle’s utterly dominant performance in the men’s 100m freestyle setting off a firestorm of claim and counterclaim.
Pan’s world record time of 46.40 left his nearest rival, Australia’s Kyle Chalmers, more than a second back, with one ex-Olympian suggesting the achievement was “not humanly possible”.
China’s swimmers have been under the microscope from the moment they arrived, and the displays of Zhang Yufei, who won three bronze medals and lost her 200m butterfly crown in the process, has also prompted some questions.
Afterwards, Zhang leapt to Pan’s defence and suggested the suspicions over the performance were unjustified. She may have a point.
American Katie Ledecky lapped some of her rivals in the 1,500m and no one has batted an eyelid.


Is dominance only valid when it’s Western, or might the 23 failed drugs tests by Chinese swimmers before the Tokyo Olympics, of which the world heard nothing until this year, have something to do with the incredulity that met Pan’s achievement?
A question no doubt further fuelled by the slowness of the La Defense Arena pool, which we are told is 50cm too shallow, subsequently leading to some rather pedestrian times in other events and setting social media tongues wagging – not that it takes much.
Social media was also the platform for veteran gymnast Li Xiaoshuang to lash out at the country’s coaches for a disappointing time in Paris. China’s athletes were underprepared, underfed and performing routines from the 1990s.
The athletic prowess of Simone Biles, who won her sixth Olympic gold in the all-around, and her American team has not helped matters. Geopolitics is never very far away when the world’s two superpowers are competing.
Closer to home and Hong Kong is dealing with a new reality, that of repeat Olympics success.
And while one, or in this case two, swallows do not make a summer, there is no denying fencing has done something right with the substantial public funding it receives every year.
Still, the sight of Vivian Kong Man-wai crying tears of joy, or the drama of Cheung Ka-long’s history-making win, more than justifies the outlay for what those gold medals have given back to the city in morale and prestige.


If only the same could be said for some of the other sports. While the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) vice-chairman Vincent Cheng took the politically obvious option of using the public mood to appeal for more cash than the billions the HKSI has already had, only triathlon coach Andrew Wright has been honest enough about the level of performance from athletes not called Kong, Cheung or Siobhan Haughey.
Haughey’s third and fourth Olympic medals set her apart, not only from those who have gone before, but from the apparent lack of anyone to come after.
The women’s relay team did not make it out of the heats, while Cindy Cheung Sum-yuet’s performance to qualify for the Games is looking increasingly like the exception rather than the rule.
Still, at least swimming can get people there. The city’s gymnastics coaches have failed to produce anyone of note for at least a decade, while track and field relies on universality places – which are designed to increase the diversity and gender balance of participating nations across the sports – to be involved. The promised review from the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee cannot come soon enough.
Hong Kong’s involvement, at least as far as medals go, is now over for another four years, but there is still plenty to keep an eye on.
The track and field events are well under way, and some of Asia’s best are involved in everything from sprinting, to javelin and boxing.
We will be providing live coverage of events in Paris every day, and look forward to you joining us, if you haven’t already.
60-Second Catch-up
Pan Zhanle’s Olympic gold medal win ‘not humanly possible’, Australian coach says.
Pan Zhanle slams ‘disrespectful’ rivals, while Chinese fans lash out at ‘arrogant Westerners’.
Explainer: Who is Pan Zhanle? Rebellious record-breaking swimmer who ‘dares to fight’.
Hong Kong fury after local swim chief calls Haughey’s Olympic bronze ‘a regret’.
Hong Kong gold medallist Vivian Kong gets heroine’s welcome upon arrival from Paris Olympics.
Video: Hong Kong’s ‘fencing queen’ Vivian Kong returns home after winning Olympic gold.
Opinion: Our Olympic heroes inspire Hong Kong’s young to chase their dreams.
Olympic hero Cheung Ka-long defines ‘Hong Kong spirit’ as ‘keep going, keep fighting’.
Video: Hong Kong’s 2-time Olympic gold medallist Cheung Ka-long returns home.
Deep dives

Pan Zhanle won’t sign fan’s China flag – Paris Olympics star praised for EQ

Pan was greeting fans after his historic win in the men’s 100m freestyle, when a young fan in the audience asked for his signature.

Chinese netizens were praising swim champion Pan Zhanle for his “high EQ” after he refused to sign a China flag handed to him by a fan.
Pan was greeting members of the audience after his historic win in the men’s 100 metres freestyle on Thursday, when a young fan handed him a flag, asking for his signature.
Read more.

Sjostrom tells Haughey to go for 2028 Games ‘as long as she loves working hard’

Hong Kong’s double Olympic bronze medallist in Paris says she hasn’t made up her mind on what future holds

Olympic champion Sarah Sjostrom has urged Siobhan Haughey to carry on swimming for as long as she enjoys devoting her life to the sport.
Hong Kong superstar Haughey revealed she was considering quitting the pool following her bronze medal swim in Wednesday’s exhilarating women’s 100 metres freestyle final.
Read more.

6 unexpected rewards for Olympic gold medallists in Asia

As well as the legacy and fame that comes with victory, there are often financial incentives on offer for the athletes

For most athletes, winning an Olympic gold medal is the pinnacle of sport, the fulfilment of a life goal.
What else could you possibly be offered by way of incentive? Well, quite a lot it seems.
Read more.

‘Fangirl moment’: China’s divers star-struck as Eileen Gu gatecrashes Olympics

Quan Hongchan ’s jaw dropped when Gu approached her and teammate Chen Yuxin after a press conference

A surprise encounter with Olympic ski champion Eileen Gu left China’s top divers star-struck at the Paris Olympics, with gold medallist Quan Hongchan blushing in admiration.
Quan’s jaw dropped when Gu approached her and teammate Chen Yuxin after a press conference, with the 17-year-old covering her mouth and hopping excitedly.
Read more.

Hong Kong golden girl Kong to take break before deciding on Olympic title defence

City’s newest star says she devoted ‘every day’ and had reached a literal breaking point during her gruelling three-year preparation for Paris

Vivian Kong Man-wai said she would weigh up her fencing future after she returns to Hong Kong from her extraordinary Paris Olympics exploits.
Épéeist Kong’s remarkable surge to gold last weekend prompted an outpouring of jubilation in her home city. The 30-year-old acknowledged she hadn’t grasped the depth of reaction from around 9,500 kilometres away in the French capital, but underlined her gratitude for Hongkongers’ fervent support.
Read more.

‘Pineapple belongs on pizza’: Italy vs Hong Kong Instagram war after Cheung’s win

Hongkongers were prepared to hit the Italians where it hurt as the fallout over the dramatic bout spilled onto social media

Cheung Ka-long’s victory over Italy’s Filippo Macchi in the fencing gold medal bout has led to a bitter fallout that has now spilled out into all-out war on Instagram.
The Hongkonger’s controversial win was met with a backlash in Italy as Macchi’s coach labelled his pupil the “moral winner” and the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) lodged a formal complaint.
Read more.
Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world.
Sign up now!


Ex-China volleyballer Wang Yunlu says missing Paris Olympics made her feel like a ‘failure’

Hong Kong’s sports sector helped generate extra HK$46b in value in 2024

Chinese authorities investigating ‘malicious’ cyberbullying of diving star Quan Hongchan

Chinese Taipei boxer Lin Yu-ting takes bronze at Asian championships in competitive return

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Olympic Games are off and running, but rivals claim China success ‘not humanly possible’

Pan Zhanle of China celebrates after the men’s 100m freestyle final. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Long celebrates after winning against Italy’s Filippo Macchi in the men’s foil individual gold medal bout. Photo: AFP

Photo: AP

Photo: AFP

Photo: Instagram/kasumi.ishikawa_official

Photo: Reuters

Photo: Instagram

Russia’s ‘priority’ friendship with China, beyond raises concerns over regional insecurity

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states leaders’ summit in Astana. Photo: dpa

Participants of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Photo: Reuters

Photo: EPA-EFE

Photo: Xinhua

Photo: Wikipedia

Photo: TNS

Promises abound of deepened reform, but what did China’s third plenum tell us?

Members of the Politburo Standing Committee attend the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee in Beijing. Photo: AP

Top leaders attend the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee in Beijing. Photo: AP

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Illustration: Henry Wong

South China Sea clash raises stakes even higher as scepticism surrounds Manila talks

Protesters hold a Philippine flag and signs defending Philippine sovereignty in areas of the South China Sea. Photo: EPA-EFE

Philippine Coast Guard personnel filming a China Coast Guard vessel during a supply mission in disputed waters of the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Photo: Philippine Coast

China comes out swinging at ‘Summer Davos’, but talks up markets and US trade

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian. Photo: AFP

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a symposium for foreign business representatives at the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian. Photo: Xinhua

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Photo: Bloomberg

Photo: World Economic Forum

China eyes tech and economic goals for at third plenum, but few drastic changes expected

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we take a look ahead to China’s third plenum, which has been a landmark occasion since Deng Xiaoping’s groundbreaking reforms in 1978. Photo: Bloomberg

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we take a look ahead to China’s third plenum, which has been a landmark occasion since Deng Xiaoping’s groundbreaking reforms in 1978. Photo: Reuters

Illustration: Davies Christian Surya

Economy

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Explainers

China

Hong Kong

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at a busy first week in Paris as the Olympic Games brought gold medals and plenty of controversy


In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at a busy first week in Paris as the Olympic Games brought gold medals and plenty of controversy.


Global Impact

Tokyo

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at a busy first week in Paris as the Olympic Games brought gold medals and plenty of controversy

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at a busy first week in Paris as the Olympic Games brought gold medals and plenty of controversy