Veteran cyclist Sarah Lee remains focused on Asian Games as she earns Hall of Fame nod in annual press awards
- Despite turning 36 next year, Lee insists she still has an important role to play in developing younger cycling talent
- Double Olympic bronze medallist joined Sports Press Association’s Hall of Fame, while Cheung Ka-long and Siobhan Haughey were celebrated
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, who turns 36 next year, believes she still has a role to play for team Hong Kong in the sprinting events.
“My plan is to focus on finishing my university studies this year before taking to the track early next year in preparation for the Hangzhou Games,” Lee said.
“My original plan was to go to Hangzhou this year and now the Games have been pushed back for one year, I will still stick to the plan. But of course I will have to see my form and condition next year. If the younger generation riders can beat me easily, there is no point in me taking part in the Games.”
Lee made the comments after being presented with the inaugural Hall of Fame award by the Sports Press Association on Tuesday in recognition of her contribution to sport over the past 25 years. During the ceremony, Lee stressed her contribution to cycling was not over just yet.
“I hope people will not consider this award as the end of an athlete or as a lifetime achievement. An athlete’s career is more than just a job, it’s the life long attitude of a group of dream chasers,” she said.
Lee said she had started preparation for the 2022 Asian Games in February before news of its postponement, and that she would commence a similar training plan next year.
Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak said it would be a positive move if Lee decided to attend the Hangzhou Games.
“We need her experience to bring up the young riders,” Leung said. “She is still a top class sprinter and we have no doubt of her ability in individual events, but if she can also help the younger generation to achieve results in the team event, it will be a strong boost to her fellow teammates.”
The women’s team sprint comprises three riders in a three-lap competition. Lee has remained a threat with her explosive power, particularly in the late stages of competition.
There are also the individual events in sprint and keirin. Lee won a bronze medal in the keirin at the 2012 London Games, and captured her second Olympic bronze medal by finishing third in the sprint in Tokyo last summer.
She also won the sprint and keirin gold medals at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and successfully defended both in Jakarta four years later, but it was her achievements at the Tokyo Games that earned her the Hall of Fame nod at Tuesday’s ceremony.
Lee lifted her first track World Championships gold meal in 2013 in the individual time trial and lifted a double in the sprint and keirin at the 2019 World Championships in Poland.
The association, meanwhile, also presented the 2021 Germagic Best Athlete award to fencer Cheung Ka-long and swimmer Siobhan Haughey for their performances in Tokyo.
Cheung won the individual foil, securing the first Olympic gold medal for Hong Kong since windsurfer Lee Lai-shan’s triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Games, while Haughey captured two swimming silver medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle.
Haughey, who attended the presentation, said her biggest target for 2022 will be to defend her 200m freestyle title at the short course World Championships in Melbourne in December.
The 24-year-old will join a training camp with her teammates in September, before taking part in the 2022 World Cup short course series as preparation for the event.
