An exclusive with athletes from Malaysia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

In Part 2 of Prestige Malaysia‘s August 2021 cover story, we hear from Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing, Leong Mun Yee, Pandelela Rinong, and Lee Zii Jia.

Omega has been recording Olympic dreams since 1932. At this historic moment in time, we record the journey of our Malaysian athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics through the lens of Annice Lyn. Extraordinary individuals of great fortitude reveal the sacrifices, challenges, and glory they hope to achieve in their lifetimes.

Read Part 1 here.

Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing

Artistic Gymnastics: Men’s Artistic Individual All-Around

Also making his Olympic debut, Jeremiah Loo had only a very short window to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. “I found out that I was participating in the Games just a month before the event”.

Despite that, the 23 year old who is the first Malaysian male gymnast to qualify for the Olympics since Ng Shu Wai in 2004, admits that he is excited to be amongst the world’s greats and describes his experience in Tokyo as one for the books. 

Winning gold in Pommel Horse at the 2017 South East Asian Games, the Penangite who is trained by his coach Ng Shu Liang – Shu Wai’s brother – recalls how different it was training for the Olympics this time around due to the pandemic restrictions.  “Because of the quarantine based training, we are not allowed to go out from training centre at all.”

“The pandemic really affects me as I can’t reunite with my family, but at least there is the internet to stay connected,” he adds.

He admits that seeing athletes training in-person after two years is a surreal experience and he can’t help but to feel a little nervous. “There is a lot of pressure, but pressure is the reason that keeps me moving forward. It motivates me to do my best.”

With 15 years of effort put into gymnastics, there was a moment in 2019 where Jeremiah almost quit his dream due to a shoulder injury, but after a year of recovery, he was back in training and it eventually allowed his Olympic debut dreams to come true. Looking ahead, Jeremiah is setting his sights to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris next.

Leong Mun Yee

Diving: Women’s Synchronised 10m Platform

Leong Mun Yee has been swimming since the tender age of two. In 2019, she made waves with Pandalela Rinong when they secured the silver medal in the women’s synchronised 10m platform at the World Championship, earning their place at the Olympics.

This year, the 36-year-old diver takes her final bow at Tokyo 2020 as the only Malaysian athlete to ever compete in five consecutive Olympic Games. Besides winning three medals at the World Championship, she is also the first female national diver to place at the Asian Games (2002). Mun Yee has also scored wins at the SEA Games and Commonwealth Games…