Hong Kong, China (HKG)

The National Olympic Committee of Hong Kong was formed on 24 November 1950 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 7 May 1951, at the IOC session in Vienna. Hong Kong first competed at the 1952 Olympic Games and has since missed only the 1980 Moskva Olympics.

Despite this long Olympic history, prior to 1996, no Hong Kong athlete had ever finished in the top 10. In Atlanta, Lee Lai Shan won Hong Kong’s first Olympic medal, a gold in mistral windsurfing. At Tokyo 2020, Honk Kong won its second gold medal ever, by Edgar Cheung in men’s fencing individual foil. Only two athletes from Hong Kong have won two Olympic medals, both women: track cyclist Sarah Lee (two bronze) in 2012 and 2020, and swimmer Siobhán Haughey, with two silver, both at Tokyo 2020.

On 1 July 1997, China regained sovereignty over Hong Kong, but it was agreed that the territory would retain a separate Olympic identity as Hong Kong, China.

Hong Kong first competed at the Olympic Winter Games in 2002, represented by two female short-track speed skaters, Christy Ren and Cordia Tsoi. The nation has never missed an edition of the Winter Olympics since. Han Yue Shuang competed in women’s short-track speed skating in 2006 and 2010, becoming the only Hong Kong, China athlete to appear at two Olympic Winter Games through 2022. Her 18th place in the 2006 1,000 metres is the best finish for the country at the Winter Olympics.