Wong Kam-po
Wong Kam-po SBS BBS MH (Chinese: 黃金寶; Jyutping: wong4 gam1 bou2, born 13 March 1973) is a Hong Kong racing cyclist. A specialist in road bicycle racing, at age 34 he became a track cycling world champion in the scratch race of the 2007 World Championships, which was not his specialty.
Wong Kam-po is a five times Olympian (most among Hong Kong athletes). He won Asian Games individual road race three times (1998, 2006, 2010) under compe*ion from Pro tour cyclists of Central Asia countries such as Kazakhstan. He won also track World Cup twice.
He is the men sports icon of Hong Kong. He was a coach in the Hong Kong cycling team.
Contents
- 1 Biography
- 1.1 Early career and Asian Game gold medalist
- 1.2 2007 World Champion in scratch race
- 1.3 2008 and 2012 Olympics
- 1.4 As a sports icon
- 1.5 After professional cyclist career
- 1.6 Amb*ador and TV adverti*t
- 2 2023 Asian Games bid
- 3 Palmarès
- 4 2009 National Games *ault incident
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Biography
Early career and Asian Game gold medalist
Wong Kam-po joined the Hong Kong cycling team in 1990. He quit the team after allegedly fighting with a teammate. After meeting his current coach Shen Jiang-Kong: (Chinese: 沈金康), he rejoined the team and began a successful career, winning golds in the National Games of China (1997 & 2001) and the Asian Games (1998, 2006, 2010). His 1997 win of the Philippine Marlboro Tour was the only championship by a non-Filipino in the event.
In 1992, he was banned from international races for one year for deserting the trouble-plagued 1992 pre-Olympic training squad in France, in support of his coach Chow Tat-ming who was in dispute with the Hong Kong Cycling *ociation over wages. Wong returned to racing in the opening race of the 1993-94 season. He won his third Asian Games Gold Medal in Guangzhou.
2007 World Champion in scratch race
A specialist in road bicycle racing, at age 34 he became a track cycling world champion in the scratch race of the 2007 World Championships, which is not his specialty. In the race, he overtook the lead pack when there were 9 laps remaining and he crossed the finishing line at roughly 17 minutes 43 seconds. He earned the right to wear the Rainbow Jersey for the year 2007-08.
2008 and 2012 Olympics
Wong performed well at the 2007 UCI B World Championships road race, with a 4th-place finish. He qualified for the track cycling points race of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and finished at the 15th out of 23 cyclists. He is the flag bearer for Hong Kong.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Wong Kam-Po is the sole Hong Kong rider to attend Men's road race. He finished 37th, was just 40 seconds off the winner Alexander Vinokurov.
As a sports icon
Wong Kam-Po is a consistent performer. During his lengthy career, he is always able to get precious win in international sports events for Hong Kong. He got "Best of the Best" *le of Hong Kong Sports Stars Award in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
In 2007 he became the first HongKonger World Champion cyclist and thereby became the sports icon of Hong Kong.
On 29 June 2007, Hu Jintao, the President of China, visited Hong Kong and met Wong. President Hu commented, "you brought glory for Hong Kong and for our country. You are a darling more precious than gold." (Chinese: 你是比黃金還珍貴的寶貝) President Hu's remarks became a viral wordplay on Wong Kam-po's name, as Po means darling and Wong Kam means gold.
After Wong Kam-Po won his third Asian Games Gold Medal in Guangzhou, Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing said, "I would like to pay my particular tribute to our cyclist Wong Kam-po who has won three gold, one silver and one bronze, including the gold medal grabbed today, during his various performances at the Asian Games. He epitomises Hong Kong people's determination and perseverance. This is legendary."
Wong was the first Hong Kong rider to gain Category One status in Europe.
After professional cyclist career
Wong Kam-Po became a coach of Hong Kong National cycling team after retirement in 2013. In 2017, Wong left coach position and joined Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong.
Amb*ador and TV adverti*t
Wong Kam-Po is amb*ador of brands including UNIQLO, etc.He also is actor of commercial TV adverti*ts.
2007:: Hong Kong School of Motoring - Safety drive.
2011:: Beauty Choice - Skeleton Plus.
2011:: Dah Sing Life Insurance - Hong Kong Spirit.
2015:: Dah Sing Life Insurance - Wong Kam Po vs Shark.
2022:: Panasonic - Golden Rice Cooker.
2023 Asian Games bid
Wong Kam-po is a supporter of Hong Kong's 2023 Asian Games bid. On 29 November 2010, speaking at the Legislative Council Home Affairs Panel special meeting on the proposed hosting of the 2023 Asian Games, Wong Kam-po said political parties' resistance to the proposal broke his heart. He said Hong Kong needs the spirit of sport, urging legislators to view the issue from a long-term and global perspective.
Palmarès
19951st Tour de Okinawa1st Pacific Ocean Games19971st General Cl*ification Tour of the Philippines19981st Tour de Okinawa19991st General Cl*ification Tour of South China Sea20001st Stage 4 Tour de Langkawi1st Tour de Okinawa1st in Stage 3 Tour of South China Sea20011st Meridian Circuit, Englewood, Colorado (USA)1st Stage 10 Superweek International Cycling Cl*ic (USA)1st Road Race, Asian Championships1st General Cl*ification Tour of South China Sea1st Stage 21st Stage 31st Stage 4Tour de Langkawi1st Asian Rider Cl*ification20023rd Road Race, Asian Championships3rd Road Race, Asian Games1st Stage 5 Tour of Wellington1st Stage 7 Tour of Wellington3rd Langnau (SUI)1st Stage 4 Tour of Qinghai Lake20031st Steinfurt (GER)1st Stage 3 Tour Nord-Isère (FRA)1st Stage 1 Tour de Korea1st Stage 5 Tour de Korea1st Gippingen (SUI)1st Stage 1 Tour of Qinghai Lake2nd General Cl*ification Tour of South China Sea1st Stage 220042nd Points Race, Asian Championships3rd Scratch Race, Asian Championships1st General Cl*ification Tour de Hokkaido1st Stage 11st Stage 5 Tour d'Indonesia, Madiun (IDN)1st Tour de Okinawa (JPN)3rd General Cl*ification Tour of South China Sea20051st Stage 7 Tour of South China Sea1st Stage 1 Tour of Siam1st in Stage 2 Tour of China, Hefei (CHN)1st in Stage 3 Tour of China, Hefei (CHN)1st in Stage 4 Tour of China, Hefei (CHN)1st in Stage 9 Tour d'Indonesia, DenPasar (IDN)2nd in General Cl*ification Tour of South China Sea (HKG)1st in Stage 21st in Stage 41st in Stage 51st in Stage 620061st GP des fêtes du Coux et Bigaroque (FRA)1st Stage 3 Cepa Tour, Hong Kong, Asia World-Expo (HKG)1st Stage 4 Cepa Tour, Hong Kong Shatin (HKG)1st Stage 1 Tour of *an, Osaka (JPN)1st Road Race, Asian Games1st Stage 4 Tour of South China Sea20071st Stage 5 Jelajah Malaysia, Taiping (MAS)1st Stage 2 Tour de Taiwan, Tainan (TPE)1st Scratch Race, World Championships2nd Hong Kong National Road Race Championships20081st Scratch Race, Track World Cup,Los Angeles (USA)1st in Stage 1 Tour de Taiwan, Love River (TPE)1st in Stage 7 Tour de Taiwan, Jingmao (TPE)20091st Point Race, Track World Cup, Copenhagen20101st Road Race, Asian Games2nd Point Race, Asian Games20121st Stage 2 Tour de Taiwan37th overall Men's road race, Summer Olympics2009 National Games *ault incident
In the week of 16 October, Wong Kam-po was preparing for the 11th National Games in Shandong. In preparing for the event, Wong and his team were 10 minutes early, and the security guards did not let them enter the venue. The team was then *aulted by the security. Cyclist Wong Kam-po was pushed down to the floor by the guards. Hong Kong Sports Ins*ute coach Zhang Pak-ming (張百鳴) was surrounded by four security guards and beaten. His leg was injured. A threat was also made to destroy the HK team's car. The incident was reported to the police, after which they were allowed to enter the venue. President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Timothy Fok, expressed concern about the case.
See also
- Kwok Ho Ting, another World Champion track cyclist from Hong Kong
- Wai Sze Lee, Hong Kong track racing cyclist
References
External links
- Profile at doha-2006.com
- Profile at cyclingnews.com
- Profile at Hong Kong Olympic Committee
- Cyclingnews.com interview 2007