KUALA LUMPUR: National gymnast Amy Kwan Dict Weng took great pain for more than a year to compete for the nation.
The 23-year-old twisted her left ankle after last year’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games but opted to not go for her surgery, keeping this year’s Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asian Championship and World Championship in mind.
All this while, she was taking painkillers and injections to keep her glam and leap in competitions to win medals for the country.
The Selangor-born only decided to undergo surgery last week, after finishing off her season.
Her sacrifice got the right recognition when she was announced as the female Olympian of the Year 2018 at the 25th Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Annual Dinner and Awards Night last night.
“Unbelievable, there are a lot of gymnasts and athletes who performed better and very well in the Commonwealth and Asian Games. I am still speechless.
“This award is definitely a boost for me after having so many ups and downs. This year was like a roller-coaster ride for me. After the surgery, it has been a bit of a hard time for me,” said Amy, who slowly walked to stage with crutches to receive the award.
“Thanks to OCM for giving me this award, it brings some light in my life now. It was an old injury, I first twisted it in 2014 after my Commonwealth Games debut, that time I did not take the decision to do my left ankle surgery, only did right ankle.
“Then last year after the KL SEA Games, it twisted again, it became worse and all this while I was taking painkillers and injections to cover it up and as a recovery,” she told reporters after the ceremony.
Despite the injury, she showcased a great performance at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April to clinch four medals – gold in individual ribbon, silver in women’s team event and two bronze medals in individual all-around and hoop.
Amy continued the momentum to win a surprise bronze in the ribbon event at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships hosted by Malaysia in early May.
At the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games in August, the national gymnast returned home empty-handed from her Asiad debut.
Amy was only the third gymnast to win the Olympian of the Year award since its introduction in 1993, after Au Li Yen (1997) and Ng Shu Wai (2005).
For now, she will be taking a good rest to recover and the next major task might be next year’s SEA Games in the Philippines.
“The Doctor advised that the maximum it would take would be six months to fully recover but depends on how my recovery and rehabilitation goes...After a week, I am feeling better and better. I hope to get back soon,” she said. — Bernama
