Hong Kong’s Oscar Coggins Eyes Top-10 Finish at 2028 Olympics After Comeback
Triathlete Oscar Coggins says he felt no bitterness or sadness watching the Paris Olympics on television. The 25-year-old Hong Kong athlete, who competed in Tokyo, took an eight-month hiatus last year to address mental and physical health challenges. He had withdrawn from the Asian Games in Hangzhou after recognizing the need for a break.
Back on the Starting Line
Coggins resumed competition in May, marking a significant milestone in his journey back to elite-level competition. In September, he competed in the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTS) race in Weihai, an achievement he described as a key moment. “
That was a big milestone after the Asian Games, I would have done anything to be back racing at a WTS, against all the top guys, one year later,” Coggins said.
Paris 2024 and Beyond
While the Paris Games coincided with the early stages of Coggins’ comeback, he did not fixate on them. He watched the men’s triathlon race while training on an indoor bike and found himself imagining where he would be in the race if he were competing. “I was imagining where I’d be in the race, but it wasn’t a negative feeling, there was no bitterness or sadness,” Coggins shared. “I accepted my performance level wasn’t there and I don’t care about being on the start line for the sake of it.”
That self-awareness has fueled his determination as Coggins sets his sights on a challenging goal: a top-10 finish at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“It’s a long way off, but I think it’s a good target,” Coggins said. “I’m just going to focus on sticking to my plan, working hard every day and getting better. If I do that, I think the results will follow.”
He added, “Sometimes when things get tough, you just have to remind yourself why you started doing this in the first place.”
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