Rested and refreshed Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long ready for National Games build-up
Two-time Olympic champion has been ‘trying something different’ since a stunning loss at the world championships in July
Champion fencer Cheung Ka-long finally returned to normal training last week as he builds up to the National Games, and a fully rested and rejuvenated two-time Olympic champion is probably the last man any opponent would wish to meet on the piste at Kai Tak Arena next month.
“I felt there was too little rest for me after the Paris Olympics when I started to prepare for last season,” said the 28-year-old, who is now ranked 13th in the world.
“After talking to my coach [Greg Koenig], we felt [these past few months] were a good window to have some extra rest … still, I have been working on my physical and fitness training.”
France’s Christian d’Oriola was the previous man to do it, winning his second in Melbourne in 1956, four years after winning in Helsinki. Before that, you had to go right back to Nedo Nadi of Italy at Stockholm 1912, who then defended it eight years later in Antwerp, as the 1916 Games in Berlin had to be cancelled because of World War I.