Hong Kong delivered a formidable performance at the 15th National Games, hosted across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau from November 9 to 21, achieving an overall tally of 17 medals, including eight gold, two silver, and seven bronze. The biennial multisport event brought together elite athletes from various Chinese provinces and regions, with Hong Kong athletes excelling in nine different sports, demonstrating significant competitive depth and marking historic moments for several disciplines. Hong Kong served as one of the co-hosts, staging competitions for basketball (men’s U22), track cycling, fencing, golf, handball (men), rugby sevens, triathlon, beach volleyball, and bowling.

Record-Breaking Gold Medal Haul

Hong Kong’s eight gold medals highlighted the city’s rising athletic prowess, particularly in swimming and cycling.

Swimming Dominance: Olympic medalist Siobhán Haughey reaffirmed her elite status by winning two individual gold medals in the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events, maintaining her reputation as one of the region’s premier swimmers. Furthermore, Ian Ho Yentou secured a historic gold, winning the men’s 50-meter freestyle in a city record time of 21.71 seconds, marking Hong Kong’s first-ever gold in men’s swimming at the National Games.

Cycling Excellence: Cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing made history by capturing three individual gold medals at a single National Games—a challenging record for future athletes to surpass. Lee earned top honors in women’s road cycling individual, the omnium event, and, alongside teammate Chloe Leung Wing-yee, secured gold in the madison event.

First-Time Victories: Several gold medals represented landmark achievements for Hong Kong:

• Sailing: Nicholas Bezy Halliday claimed Hong Kong’s first gold of the games in the men’s ILCA 7 event.
• Rugby Sevens: The men’s rugby sevens team secured Hong Kong’s inaugural gold in the sport at the National Games, defeating Shandong 26-19 in a closely contested final.

Notable Silver and Bronze Performances

Beyond the gold medals, Hong Kong athletes secured valuable finishes across various events, signaling broader competitive growth.

In Fencing, Aaron Ho Sze-long secured a silver medal in the men’s individual sabre event, marking the city’s best-ever finish and first sabre medal at the National Games. Triathlon saw a team silver in the mixed relay, with athletes Cade Wright, Bailee Brown, Oscar Coggins, and Robin Elg finishing narrowly behind the Shandong team.

The bronze medal tally included multiple honors from high-profile athletes:

• Swimming: Siobhán Haughey added two bronze medals (50-meter breaststroke and 50-meter freestyle) to her collection, while Adam Mak Sai-ting clinched bronze in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke, setting a new city record and achieving the city’s first medal in the event.
• Fencing: Olympic champion Edgar Cheung Ka-long brought home a bronze in the men’s individual foil, and Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan added another bronze in the women’s individual épée.
• Tennis: The youth men’s team captured Hong Kong’s first-ever tennis medal at the National Games, securing bronze after their semi-final loss.

The collective success across events like cycling, swimming, and rugby sevens underscores Hong Kong’s targeted investment in elite sports development. The event not only provided a key competitive platform but also served as a crucial step for Hong Kong athletes preparing for major international competitions. The depth of the medal count, particularly the debut medals in fencing, tennis, and men’s swimming, highlights an expanding talent pool ready to represent the region on the global stage.