Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long ready to rise to challenge overcome by Djokovic, Guardiola
Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long is working with coach Greg Koenig to maintain his motivation and focus after achieving significant success in his career. The article explores the psychological challenges elite athletes face when trying to sustain performance after reaching the pinnacle of their sport.
Why it matters
Understanding the mental health and psychological drivers of elite athletes provides insight into the sustainability of high-performance sports careers.
A big believer that elite sporting performance is entirely dictated by an athlete’s brain, Greg Koenig is busy convincing Cheung Ka-long that the Asian Games remain an important date in his calendar.
Hong Kong’s first fencing superstar, Cheung has been there and done it over the past five years.
He brilliantly won a pair of Olympic golds, first as an unfancied underdog, then as the foil king his rivals all wanted to dethrone, either side of becoming Asian Games champion in 2023.
Of Cheung’s teammates in Japan this month, Harris Ho Shing-him and Leung Chin-yu, 17 and 21 respectively, will be making their debuts. Ryan Choi Chun-yin has a world title but is still desperately coveting his first Olympic medal.
“The psychological planning for Ka-long is different from the others, because he’s won everything,” Koenig said.
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