Wong Kam-po
SBS MH (, born 13 March 1973) is a
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
racing cyclist
Cycle sport is Competition, competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing ...
. A specialist in
road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on Road surface, paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional sport, professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and ...
, at age 34 he became a
track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using purpose-designed track bicycles.
History
Track cycling has been around since at least 1870. When track cycling was in its infancy, it wa ...
world champion in the scratch race of the
2007 World Championships, which was not his specialty.
Wong Kam-po is a five-time Olympian (the most of any Hong Kong athlete) and much-lauded sports icon. He won Asian Games individual road race three times (
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...
,
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...
,
2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
) under competition from Pro tour cyclists of Central Asia countries such as Kazakhstan. He won also track World Cup twice. Latterly, he was a coach with the Hong Kong cycling national set-up.
Biography
Early career and Asian Games 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 (), he rejoined the team and began a successful career, winning golds in the
National Games of China
The National Games of the People's Republic of China (), sometimes known as the All China Games (though not to be confused with the All-China Games), is the premier sports event in China at national level. It is usually held once every four year ...
(1997 and 2001) and the Asian Games (
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...
,
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...
,
2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
). 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
Chow may refer to:
* Selected set of nutrients fed to animals subjected to laboratory testing
* Chow Chow, a dog breed
* A slang term for food in general (such as in the terms "chow down" or "chow hall")
* Chow test, a statistical test for det ...
who was in dispute with the
Hong Kong Cycling Association
The Hong Kong Cycling Association (in Traditional Chinese: 香港單車聯會) or HKCA is the national governing body of cycle racing in Hong Kong.
It is a member of the UCI and the Asian Cycling Confederation.
See also
* Hong Kong Cycling Al ...
over wages. Wong returned to racing in the opening race of the 1993-94 season.
['Heavyweight' Wong surprised by recall to national side]
SCMP, 19 January 1994 He won his third Asian Games Gold Medal in
Guangzhou
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kon ...
.
2007 World Champion in scratch race
A specialist in
road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on Road surface, paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional sport, professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and ...
, at age 34 he became a
track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using purpose-designed track bicycles.
History
Track cycling has been around since at least 1870. When track cycling was in its infancy, it wa ...
world champion in the scratch race of the
2007 World Championships, which is not his specialty. In the race, he overtook the lead pack with nine laps remaining and crossed the finishing line at 17 minutes 45 seconds. He earned the right to wear the
Rainbow Jersey
The rainbow jersey is the distinctive jersey worn by the reigning world champion in a cycling discipline, since 1927. The jersey is predominantly white with five horizontal bands in the UCI colours around the chest. From the bottom up the c ...
for the year 2007-08.
2008 and 2012 Olympics
Wong performed well at the 2007
UCI B World Championships The UCI B World Championships were the world championship for Level B bicycle road racing and bicycle time trials organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for nations with developing competitive cycling. The UCI B World Championships inc ...
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
A standard-bearer, also known as a flag-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem known as a standard or military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a f ...
for
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Wong Kam-Po was the sole Hong Kong rider to attend
Men's road race. He finished 37th, just 40 seconds behind 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" title 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
Hu Jintao (born 21 December 1942) is a Chinese politician who served as the 16–17th general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 2002 to 2012, the 6th president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 2003 to 2013, an ...
, the President of China, visited Hong Kong and met Wong. Hu commented, "you brought glory for Hong Kong and for your country. You are a darling more precious than gold." (Chinese: 你為香港、為國家爭得了榮譽,你是比黃金還珍貴的寶貝) Hu's remarks became a viral
wordplay
Word play or wordplay (also: play-on-words) is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phone ...
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
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kon ...
, Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs
Tsang Tak-sing
Tsang Tak Sing GBS JP (; born 1949, Canton, China) is the former Secretary for Home Affairs of Hong Kong. Formerly an adviser to the Central Policy Unit, he assumed office on 1 July 2007, replacing Patrick Ho. He is the younger brother of J ...
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.
Brand Spokesman and TV advertisement
Wong Kam-Po was spokesman of Giant Bicycles, KMC Chain, Polar cycling computer covering Greater China Regions.
He is also Hong Kong region spokesman of Nike, Uniqlo, Panasonic etc.
PO is the protagonist of commercial TV advertisements including
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 2019 Asian Games, 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
;1995
:1st Tour de Okinawa
The is an annual professional road bicycle racing Classic cycle races, classic one-day race held in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was first started in 1989 as an amateur race, but became professional in 1999. It became part of the UCI Asia Tour i ...
:1st Pacific Ocean Games
;1997
: 1st General Classification Tour of the Philippines
;1998
: 1st Tour de Okinawa
The is an annual professional road bicycle racing Classic cycle races, classic one-day race held in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was first started in 1989 as an amateur race, but became professional in 1999. It became part of the UCI Asia Tour i ...
;1999
: 1st General Classification Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
;2000
: 1st Stage 4 Tour de Langkawi
The Tour de Langkawi is a multiple stage bicycle race held in Malaysia. It is named after the archipelago Langkawi, where the first edition started and finished. The race has been held annually since 1996, primarily in February. It usually con ...
: 1st Tour de Okinawa
The is an annual professional road bicycle racing Classic cycle races, classic one-day race held in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was first started in 1989 as an amateur race, but became professional in 1999. It became part of the UCI Asia Tour i ...
: 1st in Stage 3 Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
;2001
: 1st Meridian Circuit, Englewood, Colorado (USA)
: 1st Stage 10 Superweek International Cycling Classic (USA)
: 1st Road Race, Asian Championships
An Asian Championship is a top level international sports competition between Asian athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs.
List of Championships (Summer Olympic Sports)
;Aquatics
* Asian ...
: 1st General Classification Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
:: 1st Stage 2
:: 1st Stage 3
:: 1st Stage 4
: Tour de Langkawi
The Tour de Langkawi is a multiple stage bicycle race held in Malaysia. It is named after the archipelago Langkawi, where the first edition started and finished. The race has been held annually since 1996, primarily in February. It usually con ...
::1st Asian Rider Classification
;2002
: 3rd Road Race, Asian Championships
An Asian Championship is a top level international sports competition between Asian athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs.
List of Championships (Summer Olympic Sports)
;Aquatics
* Asian ...
: 3rd Road Race, Asian Games
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
: 1st Stage 5 Tour of Wellington
The New Zealand Cycle Classic (previously known as the Tour of Wellington) is a road cycling race held in and around the Wairarapa near Wellington, New Zealand. The race is a men's competition over five stages and part of the UCI Oceania Tour. ...
: 1st Stage 7 Tour of Wellington
The New Zealand Cycle Classic (previously known as the Tour of Wellington) is a road cycling race held in and around the Wairarapa near Wellington, New Zealand. The race is a men's competition over five stages and part of the UCI Oceania Tour. ...
: 3rd Langnau (SUI)
: 1st Stage 4 Tour of Qinghai Lake
The Tour of Qinghai Lake is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in the Qinghai province of China since 2002, named after Qinghai Lake. The race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.HC race as part of ...
;2003
: 1st Steinfurt (GER)
: 1st Stage 3 Tour Nord-Isère (FRA)
: 1st Stage 1 Tour de Korea
The Tour de Korea is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in South Korea since 2000 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It was rated by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.2 category race between 2005 and 2013, then promot ...
: 1st Stage 5 Tour de Korea
The Tour de Korea is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in South Korea since 2000 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It was rated by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.2 category race between 2005 and 2013, then promot ...
: 1st Gippingen (SUI)
: 1st Stage 1 Tour of Qinghai Lake
The Tour of Qinghai Lake is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in the Qinghai province of China since 2002, named after Qinghai Lake. The race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.HC race as part of ...
: 2nd General Classification Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
::1st Stage 2
;2004
: 2nd Points Race, Asian Championships
An Asian Championship is a top level international sports competition between Asian athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs.
List of Championships (Summer Olympic Sports)
;Aquatics
* Asian ...
: 3rd Scratch Race, Asian Championships
An Asian Championship is a top level international sports competition between Asian athletes or sports teams representing their respective countries or professional sports clubs.
List of Championships (Summer Olympic Sports)
;Aquatics
* Asian ...
: 1st General Classification Tour de Hokkaido
The Tour de Hokkaido is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Hokkaido, Japan since 1987 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It is rated by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.2 category race.
The event for 2018 was ...
::1st Stage 1
: 1st Stage 5 Tour d'Indonesia, Madiun (IDN)
: 1st Tour de Okinawa
The is an annual professional road bicycle racing Classic cycle races, classic one-day race held in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was first started in 1989 as an amateur race, but became professional in 1999. It became part of the UCI Asia Tour i ...
(JPN)
: 3rd General Classification Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
;2005
: 1st Stage 7 Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
: 1st Stage 1 Tour of Siam
: 1st 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 Classification Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
(HKG)
::1st in Stage 2
::1st in Stage 4
::1st in Stage 5
::1st in Stage 6
;2006
: 1st 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 Japan
The Tour of Japan is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Japan since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.1 category race.
History
Tour of Japan was formed a ...
, Osaka (JPN)
: 1st Road Race, Asian Games
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
: 1st Stage 4 Tour of South China Sea
The Tour of South China Sea is an annual professional road bicycle racing classic one-day race held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau since 1996 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It has been held during Christmas holiday every year since 1996 to celeb ...
;2007
: 1st Stage 5 Jelajah Malaysia
The Jelajah Malaysia is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Malaysia since 1963. The race is part of the UCI Asia Tour and was classified by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.2 category races. The race exists o ...
, Taiping (MAS)
: 1st Stage 2 Tour de Taiwan
The Tour de Taiwan is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Taiwan since 1978, and has been part of the UCI Asia Tour since 2005. It has been classed a 2.1 category race for the first time in 2012.
History
The Tour de Taiw ...
, Tainan (TPE)
: 1st Scratch Race, World Championships
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
: 2nd Hong Kong National Road Race Championships
;2008
: 1st Scratch Race, Track World Cup,Los Angeles (USA)
: 1st in Stage 1 Tour de Taiwan
The Tour de Taiwan is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Taiwan since 1978, and has been part of the UCI Asia Tour since 2005. It has been classed a 2.1 category race for the first time in 2012.
History
The Tour de Taiw ...
, Love River (TPE)
: 1st in Stage 7 Tour de Taiwan
The Tour de Taiwan is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Taiwan since 1978, and has been part of the UCI Asia Tour since 2005. It has been classed a 2.1 category race for the first time in 2012.
History
The Tour de Taiw ...
, Jingmao (TPE)
;2009
: 1st Point Race, Track World Cup, Copenhagen
;2010
: 1st Road Race, Asian Games
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
: 2nd Point Race, Asian Games
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
;2012
: 1st Stage 2 Tour de Taiwan
The Tour de Taiwan is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Taiwan since 1978, and has been part of the UCI Asia Tour since 2005. It has been classed a 2.1 category race for the first time in 2012.
History
The Tour de Taiw ...
: 37th overall Men's road race, Summer Olympics
2009 National Games assault incident
In the week of 16 October, Wong Kam-po was preparing for the 11th National Games in Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
.[Sina.com.]
Sina.com
" ''全運會保安打黃金寶.'' Retrieved 2009-10-29. In preparing for the event, Wong and his team were 10 minutes early, and the security guards did not let them enter the venue.[Sina.com.]
" ''全運會保安推跌黃金寶.'' Retrieved 2009-10-29. The team was then assaulted by the security. Cyclist Wong Kam-po was pushed down to the floor by the guards. Hong Kong Sports Institute
The Hong Kong Sports Institute () is a sports institute located in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is mandated to provide training to athletes, and also offers academic qualification in the field of sports training. The institute sponsors ...
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 Hong Kong team's car. The incident was reported to the police, after which they were allowed to enter the venue. President of the , Timothy Fok
Timothy Fok Tsun-ting (born 14 February 1946), GBS, JP, the eldest son of Henry Fok, is the President of the Hong Kong Football Association. He formerly represented the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency ...
, 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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wong, Kam-po
1973 births
Living people
Hong Kong male cyclists
Olympic cyclists of Hong Kong
Cyclists at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Cyclists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Cyclists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Cyclists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
UCI Track Cycling World Champions (men)
Asian Games medalists in cycling
Cyclists at the 1994 Asian Games
Cyclists at the 1998 Asian Games
Cyclists at the 2002 Asian Games
Cyclists at the 2006 Asian Games
Cyclists at the 2010 Asian Games
Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2012–2017
Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2017–2021
Asian Games gold medalists for Hong Kong
Asian Games silver medalists for Hong Kong
Asian Games bronze medalists for Hong Kong
Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games
Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games
Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games
Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games
Hong Kong track cyclists