At 74, Kent Cheng takes on his first 10K marathon and thanks “mentor” Chow Yun-fat in a post

(Hong Kong, Jan 21) The annual Hong Kong Marathon 2026 was successfully held last Sunday (Jan 18), and the biggest spotlight once again fell on Chow Yun-fat. Dressed in an all-black outfit with striking silver hair, he stood out among the crowd as one of the most talked-about runners of the day. This year’s celebrity “running squad” was also impressively strong, reportedly featuring around 20 participants including 79-year-old Lau Kong, 76-year-old Bao Qi Jing, 74-year-old Kent Cheng, as well as Priscilla Wong and Edwin Siu—though Kent Cheng’s appearance quickly became a major talking point.

According to Hong Kong media, Chow praised Kent Cheng as a “top student,” even though Cheng has only been running for about nine months. Making his marathon debut, Cheng completed the 10km race successfully in roughly two hours, earning widespread admiration online. After the race, he shared an emotional video reflecting on the experience.

In the clip, Cheng expressed special gratitude to his “master” Chow Yun-fat for his guidance and supervision, and also thanked his teammates for their encouragement. He said he had never been involved in running before and started training from mid-March—building up from zero to finishing 10km in about ten months. Recalling the moment he crossed the finish line, he said the cheers and applause from teammates and friends were deeply moving and “beyond what he had imagined.” He also encouraged the public to try something new, set a goal, and follow through: “I’m not exceptionally strong—everyone can do it. How about you? Set a goal and work for it.”

Kent Cheng’s health and appearance have been a topic of attention in recent years, as he has visibly slimmed down. Since 2021, there have even been recurring online rumours claiming he had passed away, prompting him to release a short video last year to confirm he was still alive. He previously explained that his weight dropped from 270 catties to 200 catties as he got older and wanted to reduce health risks, while his beard and tired look were due to role requirements and would be removed after filming.