The most important thing to know is that no matter where you come from, you can always be the winner. - Nur Dhabitah Sabri
It's one thing to say that you've participated in a sports competition...
... and another thing to say that you've represented your country in Olympic diving!
To get into the Olympic Games, you need to not only be the best in the sport within your country - you must also surpass the top athletes from other nations and make it past all the qualifying events. So, just becoming an Olympic athlete is not an easy feat!
How familiar are you with Malaysia's diving sport athletes who have made it to the Olympics? In this article, as we continue to support and cheer on the newest generation of diving sport athletes, let's look back on four incredible Malaysian athletes who have amazed the world in Olympic diving.
Leong Mun Yee: the nation's trailblazer
Who is the only Malaysian athlete to have competed in five Olympic Games?
That would be Leong Mun Yee!
At just the young age of 10, Leong Mun Yee began her journey in diving. The Perak-born athlete made her first appearance in the Olympic diving event at the Sydney 2000 Olympics... she was 15 years old at the time! After the Sydney 2000 Olympics, she continued to represent Malaysia for the next three Olympics in Athens, Beijing and London. She is the first female Malaysian athlete to qualify for four Olympic Games consecutively.
You can't leave out Leong Mun Yee if we are talking about Malaysia's Olympic diving history.
Having proudly represented the country in springboard diving and other various diving events for over 25 years, the now Datuk Leong Mun Yee is a decorated athlete who has won numerous medals throughout her career. These include:
- 2 bronze medals at the FINA World Championships (2009 & 2013)
- 1 gold medal and 2 silver medals at the FINA Diving Grand Prix (2017)
- 9 silver medals and 7 bronze medals at the FINA Diving World Series (2011-2016)
- 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games (2010-2018)
- 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals at the Asian Games (2006-2014)
She even has 17 gold medals, 5 silver medals and 5 bronze medals under her belt from the SEA Games!
On top of all her achievements in springboard diving, she has never stopped learning and is even currently pursuing her master's degree in corporate communication.
To me, education is very important. It is a lifelong journey that enhances my skills and knowledge personally and professionally. - Datuk Leong Mun Yee
With that mindset, it's no wonder that Datuk Leong Mun Yee was awarded the National Sports Award twice!
Pandelela Rinong: Malaysia's diving queen
Here's another quick trivia for you: who is the first Malaysian athlete to win an Olympic medal in a sport other than badminton?
You guessed it - Datuk Pandelela Rinong!
Are you aware that she is also the first female Malaysian athlete to win an Olympic medal?
Even before she knew how to swim, Pandelela Rinong began her journey in the diving sport by first diving off a platform. It all started when a young 8-year-old Pandelela went to a swimming pool near her school and asked a scouting coach if she could jump off a platform. She surprised herself and her coach by jumping off the five-metre platform!
You may be wondering what rules and regulations are used in diving.
Fueled by the sense of accomplishment, the Sarawakian native has since trained in the diving sport and participated in various diving events like springboard diving. At 14, she made her international debut at the Asian Junior Aquatics Championships and won 4 gold medals!
A year later, and just like Datuk Leong Mun Yee, Pandelela Rinong made her Olympics debut when she was 15 years old. After her first participation in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, she went on to secure Malaysia's first Olympic diving medal (bronze) in the London 2012 Olympics.
The diving queen is also credited for many "firsts" for Malaysia, including:
- The first-ever medal at the World Aquatics Championships (2009)
- The first diving gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (2010)
- The first diving silver medal at the Olympic Games (2012)
Wouldn't it be amazing to be scouted by a diving coach? You may have the chance to learn with the nation's top diving coaches by finding a diving school in Malaysia.
Bryan Nickson Lomas: the diving champion
We've been talking about Malaysian athletes who have made their Olympic diving debut in their young, teen years - but none have made it into the Olympic spotlight as early as springboard diver Bryan Nickson Lomas.
At just 14 years old, Bryan Nickson Lomas was the youngest Malaysian athlete to qualify for the Athens 2004 Olympics. Overall, he was even the second-youngest athlete to compete in the Games and had the honour of being flag-bearer during the opening ceremony. In that same year in Brazil, he also won the country's first World Junior Championships diving gold medal in the 3-metre springboard event.
The legacy of Bryan Nickson Lomas didn't stop there, though. He has won various springboard diving and platform diving events on the international stage, including:
- a gold medal and bronze medal at the FINA Diving World Juniors Championships (2004 & 2006)
- 2 gold medals at the FINA Diving Grand Prix (2012)
- a bronze medal at the FINA Diving World Cup (2012)
- 5 gold medals and a silver medal at the SEA Games (2005-2011)
For his achievements, Bryan Nickson Lomas was awarded Sportsman of the Year by his home state, Sarawak for a total of 3 times in his career. At the 2015 Universiti Malaya (UM) Sports Awards, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Just last year, he was appointed as the technical director of the Malaysia Swimming Federation (MAS). With his years of diving experience, he is looking to impart knowledge to the next generation of Malaysian divers and advance the nation's development of this diving sport.
Take this as your sign to learn more about the disciplines of diving!
Nur Dhabitah Sabri: the blazing Olympian
If you have been watching springboard diving and other related diving events with your family and friends in the last 10 years or so, then Nur Dhabitah Sabri is likely a household name.
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Nur Dhabitah Sabri joined aquatic sports through swimming at first, and she switched to diving at the age of 7 after her father decided her small body physique would suit the sport! In 2012, she became the youngest Malaysian athlete to win two events at the Southeast Asia Swimming Championships, cementing her spot as a rising sport star and talented diver.
Among the many medals and awards that Nur Dhabitah Sabri has won, she achieved her personal best results in these events:
- 2 gold medals at the FINA Diving Grand Prix (2015 & 2022)
- a bronze medal at the FINA Diving World Series (2019)
- securing fifth place at the Rio 2016 Olympics
- securing fourth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
In 2016, she was honoured as Malaysia's Most Promising Athlete, as well as Best Sportswoman in the same year. Looking forward, she is choosing to focus on improvement rather than perfection, and considers her own personal development as her best achievement.
Talk about an inspiration to all budding athletes everywhere!
Start your diving sport journey with Superprof
Ah... were you inspired by our amazing Malaysian athletes to pick up an aquatic sport?
Be that diving, water polo or swimming, it can be exhilarating to join an aquatic sport, even if it is just for recreational purposes!
To begin, you need to pick up the necessary swimming skills and techniques to become confident in the water. This is where Superprof comes in.
Superprof is a global platform that helps students connect with tutors of various subjects, such as English language, guitar, cooking and of course, swimming! Talented and qualified tutors from around the world are found on the Superprof Tutors platform, which is why millions of students have signed up there to match with their ideal tutor. Even you can find the top swimming instructor in your area by visiting the platform!
Use these steps to begin swimming lessons with your Superprof tutor:
- Visit the Superprof Tutors webpage and key in "Swimming" as your subject.
- Adjust your preferences for Learning Mode (Face-to-face or Online), Rate (budget for lessons), Response Time (get tutors that respond within the day), Distance (find swimming instructors near you), and Learning Level (beginner to advanced swimming lessons available!).
- Click on the tutors' profiles you are interested in to see which swimming instructor stands out to you. Tip: Read student reviews and tutor background.
- Reach out to your tutor by signing up as a student. Now you can message your tutor and schedule your swimming class!
Superprof makes the search for your ideal swimming instructor quick and easy. Your journey to becoming an ace in the water is just a few clicks away! Discover lesson swimming on Superprof today.
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