A chat with current and former Malaysian Olympians about Paris 2024 and more
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We’re just about a month away from the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics! As we speak, our Malaysian Olympians are in the thick of preparations, gearing up for the world stage. Meanwhile, we’re feeling the excitement of the lead-up to The Games! Not to mention, we’re also keeping a close eye on Paris as it prepares to welcome thousands of athletes, coaches, and fans from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Recently, Nobu Kuala Lumpur and the Foundation for Malaysian Sporting Excellence (SportExcel) hosted a luncheon for the national contingent headed to Paris, which saw a reunion of sporting icons and the debut of a special Olympics-themed menu. During the meal, we managed to chat with Noraseela Mohd Khalid, Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan, Jeffrey Ong, Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang, and Nurul Izzah Izzati. We talked about their Olympic experiences, what they’re looking forward to for this year’s edition, and more. Read on to find out what they had to say.
HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR PARIS 2024?
Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang: We’re actually heading to Belgium in late June, Mallorca in Spain in July, and then eventually making our way to Paris for the Olympics.
Nurul Izzah Izzati: Prep is definitely ongoing every single day. We alternate between hard weeks and easy weeks in terms of training, so I have time to focus on techniques rather than solely concentrate on racing. Since I’m still relatively new too, I know that I still need to learn a lot before the Olympics.
DESCRIBE HOW YOU FELT WHEN YOU FOUND OUT YOU QUALIFIED FOR PARIS 2024?
NI: I was both excited and nervous, especially because it’s my first time going to the Olympics. To be honest, I was only training with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as my target so my qualification was totally unexpected. I was planning to take a break after the Asian Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi, but then I won the gold medal! Because of that, I also went to Canada and Hong Kong [for the UCI Track Nations Cup 2024]. Everyone congratulated me on my performances, but I was speechless!
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WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE OLYMPICS MOMENT?
Noraseela Mohd Khalid: During the London 2012 Olympics, I remember not being able to get out of my room after my performance. I was disappointed and highly critical of myself. But my coaches got me out of the “sad bubble” I was in and managed to get me to the Closing Ceremony. Unlike the Opening Ceremony, we were able to just walk and mingle with other athletes of other nationalities. I was taking photos and meeting other medallists in my sport. I even got to meet gold medallist Félix Sánchez! That was definitely one of the most memorable moments for me.
Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan: It was a great sensation to make it to the 200m semi-finals in Tokyo and Mexico in itself. I wasn’t worried about who was watching! I was just focused on myself and the race.
Jeffrey Ong: In 1988, I got to go to my first Olympic Games in Seoul, where I marched out with our Malaysian team at the Opening Ceremony. It was an amazing feeling being there.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE OLYMPIC SPORT TO WATCH OTHER THAN YOUR OWN?
AA: Martial arts! I think Judo is particularly exciting.
JO: Aside from swimming, I enjoy watching any other sport with Malaysian athletes competing, especially track cycling! Other than that, I love watching skateboarding, surfing, beach volleyball, rock climbing, and the sprint events in athletics.
NI: Besides cycling in general, I like to watch gymnastics, swimming, and athletics!
NK: I really enjoy watching gymnastics, particularly the floor events. It’s just incredibly interesting with the different difficulty levels and skills that they display in those few minutes.
MN: My favourite sports to watch besides athletics are floor hockey, football, tennis, badminton, and swimming. They’re the most exciting to me.
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