Olympic heroes spread joy, laughter in Hong Kong, Macao

Infectious fun

China's table tennis legend Ma Long, Olympic champion gymnast Liu Yang, and over 20 other Olympians showcased their skills and played fun games with local athletes and audience members at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong on Aug 31.

Liu demonstrated his skills on the rings. Ma performed trick shots during his match with Hong Kong table tennis player Wong Chun Ting, including hitting the ball behind his back. The two entertained the crowd by playing around the table, eliciting laughter and cheers from the audience.

It was Ma's third visit to Hong Kong with the Olympic delegation.

He became one of the most successful Chinese athletes in Olympic history by helping China secure victory in the men's table tennis team final against Sweden in Paris. The win earned 35-year-old Ma his sixth gold medal, making him the most decorated table tennis player in Olympic history.

"It's wonderful to be back in Hong Kong. I'm thrilled to see more people enjoying table tennis and hope everyone finds joy in sports," Ma said.

Badminton mixed doubles duo Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong each played a friendly match with an audience member.

Another highlight was Generation Z shooter Sheng Lihao's spontaneous crossover into badminton. His unexpected and humorous movements on the court had the audience laughing uproariously.

The 19-year-old, who won gold in the men's 10m air rifle event and the mixed team event with Huang Yuting, soon went viral with the badminton clip.

Netizens compared his on-court maneuvers to a mix of stumbling and dance moves. Some said he looked like he was about to fall but never did, adding his steps resembled a blend of breakdancing and drunken fist, or zuiquan, a type of boxing.

"Sheng's badminton antics showed us a lovable and down-to-earth side of an Olympic champion. Thanks for the laughter and happiness," commented one user on the short-video platform Douyin.

"Seeing the athletes perform live is even more amazing than watching on TV. Their energy and positivity are really inspiring. I hope I can find some confidence and a sense of accomplishment through sports, too," said Law, a 60-something Hong Kong woman who attended the event.

Many delegation members — including badminton players Zheng and Jia, weightlifter Li Wenwen, and swimmer Zhang — recorded their journeys to Hong Kong and Macao on their vlogs, sharing their affection for the cities and their fellow athletes.

The vlogs not only capture the fun moments behind the scenes not visible to the public, but also show the athletes' lively and engaging personalities.

"I'm so happy to have met you all during the trip. I'll always cherish this summer," Jia wrote on Sina Weibo, referring to the visits as a happy "summer camp" for them.

"To experience such an unforgettable trip to Hong Kong and Macao again, I'm aiming to participate in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics," she added.

Zheng posted five vlogs documenting the delegation's five-day stay in the two special administrative regions.

The vlogs capture many joyful moments of his interactions with local residents, such as trying square dancing with older women in Macao and disguising himself as a middle-aged man with a mustache and beer belly to join a badminton game at the South China AA Sports Complex in Hong Kong.

Tin Ka-yan, a 17-year-old student from St. Simon's Lui Ming Choi Secondary School and a badminton enthusiast, met Zheng at the complex.

He got Zheng to sign his shirt, and said, "Meeting the athletes in person inspires me to improve my badminton skills and face life's challenges."

In his vlog, Zheng said the trip had allowed all the Olympians to truly connect with each other.

"It's been a fulfilling experience. It's a rare opportunity for us to come together and have fun," he said.

Zheng enjoys using vlogs to document his life, and watches English ones to build his everyday vocabulary and improve his language skills. He began teaching himself English two years ago.

"We spend a lot of time competing abroad and staying overseas. To communicate better with international players and media and express my thoughts more clearly, I needed to improve my English," Zheng added.