Dr. Sarah Lee Wai-sze, DSocSc, SBS, MH

Dr. Sarah Lee Wai-sze stands as one of the iconic sports figures in Hong Kong. Known by the household name “Cycling Goddess of Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate”, she is a two-time Olympic bronze medallist. Dr. Lee consistently demonstrates both unparalleled resilience on the track and remarkable academic endeavours off it. While dedicating her career to track cycling, she achieved notable academic results, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education from The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) in 2017 and a second Bachelor’s Degree in Creative and Professional Writing from HKBU in 2023, the year she retired from the sport. Her continued pursuit of knowledge exemplifies her strong commitment to lifelong learning.

Dr. Lee’s tremendous achievements in track cycling have established her as a leading athlete in the field. She first gained international recognition at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games by winning a gold medal in the Women’s 500m time trial, followed by a bronze medal in the Women’s Keirin at the London 2012 Olympic Games, marking Hong Kong, China’s first Olympic medal in cycling. In 2013, she earned her first "Rainbow Jersey" by clinching a gold medal in the Women’s 500m time trial at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships (World Championships). She achieved an even greater feat at the World Championships in 2019, earning "Double Rainbow Jersey" by clinching gold medals in both the Women’s Keirin and Women’s Sprint. Her status was further solidified at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she captured another bronze medal in the Women’s Sprint. This made her the first Hong Kong athlete to win medals at two Olympic Games. Throughout her 19-year athletic career, she won a remarkable number of medals in Asian and world competitions, including three World Championship titles, five Asian Games gold medals and two Olympic Games bronze medals, setting records that have inspired young athletes.

Her outstanding accomplishments in sports have earned Dr. Lee numerous prestigious accolades. She has been awarded several honours by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China, including the Medal of Honour (MH) in 2011, the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) in 2017 and the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in 2022. In 2018, she was named among the Ten Outstanding Young Persons by Junior Chamber International Hong Kong, China. Her influence extends beyond her athletic career, earning her recognition in academia for her extraordinary dedication. She was conferred an Honorary Fellowship by the EdUHK in 2019, a Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa, by Hong Kong Shue Yan University in 2022, and an Honorary Fellowship by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2023.

Dr. Lee is also dedicated to contributing to the community by drawing on her experience and expertise. She co-founded “Music Flow”, a non-profit organisation providing music therapy services, and served as Cycling Head Coach for a Po Leung Kuk cycling programme targeting children with special educational needs, where she also trained the staff to become coaches. In 2022, she published her first book, Every Scar on My Body where she revealed how she persevered through the countless difficulties during her 19-year journey as a cyclist, including a serious accident that left her with constant pain in her left wrist during intensive training. The book won the best publishing award in the “Psychology and Inspiration” category at the Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Awards 2023.

As an engaged member of the HKBU community, Dr. Lee spares no effort in sharing her Olympic experiences and insights through university talks, where she consistently conveys the "HKBU spirit" of faith and perseverance. She truly exemplifies humility in service, intellectual rigour, and a commitment to societal advancement. She is living proof that with unwavering dedication and determination, it is possible to excel regardless of life stages.

(HKBU would like to thank the award recipient for providing the information.)