Seven Olympian strategies for staying strong and winning against the odds

When asked about his tactic in a post-competition interview, he said, “Retreating is not the way out. Sometimes, you need to step forward and seize the opportunity.”

Cheung reminds us to rise to the challenge, even in disadvantaged situations, instead of caving in.

Read more: Cat lover, Olympic gold medallist and more: 7 things to know about Edgar Cheung Ka-long, Hong Kong Olympic fencing champion

During the 2024 Summer Games, Azizulhasni Awang, the first cyclist from Malaysia to win an Olympic medal also set a new national record in the sprint event with an impressive time of 9.402 seconds. Due to his small stature, he is affectionately known as the “Pocket Rocketman”, an uncommon characteristic of a track cyclist.

In 2011, as he was preparing for the Games in London, Awang was involved in a crash during the men’s keirin event at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup. This resulted in a piece of splinter piercing through his calf. The following year at the Olympics, he finished in last place in the final.

Despite feeling disappointed with his performance, Awang bounced back stronger by winning his first bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics. In 2017, he achieved gold at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships. In a post-race interview, he said, “I keep trying. I have never given up because I know if I keep trying hard, one day, it will be my turn to be the champion. And finally, today, it’s my time. I’m the world champion.”

Fencer Vivian Kong became the third athlete from Hong Kong to win a gold Olympic medal after defeating her French counterpart, Auriane Mallo, in the women’s épée individual event at this year’s Games. 

Following her victory, the 30-year-old athlete announced her retirement. She will serve as the Assistant External Affairs Manager at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the city’s largest and oldest charity and racing club, to promote youth affairs and sports.

Read more: Meet Vivian Kong, Hong Kong’s fencing queen who ranks top in the world

After earning the world number one title in 2019, Kong was poised to win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee before the sporting event. She placed fifth in the women’s épée event and was part of the women’s épée team, which finished seventh.

Kong took a long time to process her thoughts on her goal as a fencing athlete. Before the Games in Paris, she told the local media outlet HK01, “Recently, I have been thinking about why I need to win and why winning is so important. I convinced myself to enjoy all the ups and downs because I love fencing.” 

Kong reminds us that when a passion becomes a career, it is easy to feel defeated if we fail to achieve our goals. These milestones become the benchmark for defining capabilities. It is important not to lose one’s way while pursuing success. Instead, it’s important to savour the joy of doing what we love.

Badminton player Loh Kean Yew is the first Olympian representing Singapore to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Games. In December 2022, according to the Badminton World Federation rankings, he reached his highest world ranking of No. 3. He once defeated reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelson at the 2021 BWF World Championships.

In an interview with Tatler, this cover star encouraged aspiring Singaporean athletes to strive for their dreams. He shared that his loved ones, who have sacrificed a lot for him, motivated him to work hard. “Whatever they have been through with me has taught me a lesson: at the highest level, it’s not possible to walk alone.”

Loh explained that everything he has been through and the people he has met have made him the athlete he is today. His story teaches us to seek help from friends or family amid turbulent times because sometimes all we need is a hug.

Read more: 5 things about Loh Kean Yew, Singapore’s badminton singles star

With four Olympic medals to her name, swimmer Siobhán Haughey is the most decorated Olympian in Hong Kong’s history. She won two bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle events at the Olympics this year and two silver medals in the same events at the 2020 Games.

Haughey, noted for her self-discipline, shared in a Tatler interview the most memorable advice her coach gave her after placing fourth in a competition: “No matter what you’re doing, just think about how you can improve by one percent.”

Haughey said that she swam faster by one percent at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which led her to become an Olympic medallist. The lesson here reminds us that minor improvements can add up to significant achievements.

Read more: 5 times Siobhán Haughey ruled the pool, from the Olympics to the Asian Games

Sprint queen Shanti Pereira made history as the first Singaporean to qualify for the Olympics in the women’s 100m and 200m events. In 2023, she broke the national record several times and won gold in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Athletics Championships.

In a letter to her younger self published in the Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times, she wrote, “Energy is precious, so don’t waste it on the past.”

The letter encourages her not to overthink mishaps, emphasising that failure is inevitable and can be embraced calmly and purposefully.

Read more: Shanti Pereira: 5 things to know about the Singapore sprinter inspiring a nation

Philippine gymnast Carlos Yulo clinched the archipelago’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s floor exercise event at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. He also became the first Southeast Asian to win back-to-back gold after claiming top spot in the men’s vault event.

Before these triumphs, Yulo already had an impressive track record at international and Asian competitions. He believes one’s greatest adversary is oneself and said, “I’m okay with losing the competition but not losing to myself.”

He explained that his most challenging days were those when he lacked the motivation to train and compete. In those moments, he remembers that the real goal is to overcome our inner demons and better ourselves.

Meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow from the Sports sector.

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