Pandelela Rinong
Dato Pandelela Rinong Pamg, PSBS AMN JBK OLY (born 2 March 1993) is a Malaysian diver. She has won two Olympic medals and seven World Championships medals.
Pandelela represented Malaysia at the 2008 Summer Olympics where she finished 27th in 10m platform. She won the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She was chosen to be the flagbearer of Malaysia at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She went on to win the bronze medal in the 10m platform, becoming the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympic medal, as well as the first in any sport other than badminton. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she won the silver medal in the 10m synchronized platform with Cheong Jun Hoong.[3]
Early and personal life edit
Pandelela was born in (Kampung) Kupuo Jugan, a Bidayuh village in Bau, Sarawak to Hartini Lamim and Pamg Joheng.[4][5][6] She is of Bidayuh ethnicity, a Bumiputera native to the Malaysian state of Sarawak. She is the second of four siblings.[5] At the age of seven she was selected as a state diver and continued her training at the Bukit Jalil Sports School.[7] She graduated from University of Malaya in 2018, majoring in Sports Management Science.[8][9]
Pandelela speaks Mandarin; which she learned from attending SJK(C) Stampin - a Chinese national-type primary school, as well as her Bidayuh mother tongue, Malay and English.[10][11]
Career edit
Pandelela made her international competition debut in 2007 at the Asian Junior Aquatics Championships where she won four gold medals.[citation needed] At the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, she won the gold medal in 10m synchronized platform with Cheong Jun Hoong.
Pandelela made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a 15-year-old. She finished 27th in the 10 m platform. At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, she finished fifth in the 10 m platform. She went on to win the bronze medal in the 10 m synchronized platform with Leong Mun Yee where it was also the first-ever diving medal for Malaysia at the World Championships.[citation needed]
Pandelela won two gold medal at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane. She was the Malaysian national flag bearer the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore where she won the silver medals in the 10 m platform event and 3 m springboard event.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, she won Malaysia's debut Commonwealth Games gold medal in an aquatic sport by winning the 10 m platform event. At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, she won the bronze medal in 10 m platform and the silver medal in 10m synchronized platform with Leong Mun Yee.
Pandelela was Team Malaysia national flag bearer 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the debut Malaysian Olympic female athlete to be accorded the honour. She competed in the individual 10 m platform, 3m synchronized springboard with Cheong Jun Hoong and the 10 m synchronised platform event with Leong Mun Yee.[12]
She became the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympics medal, and the first Malaysian athlete to win an Olympics medal in a sport besides badminton by winning a bronze medal in the 10 m platform at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[12] To commemorate her success, she was presented with the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (Companion of the Order of the Star of Hornbill) by the Sarawak State Government, in a special investiture ceremony held at the Astana shortly after her triumphant return to her homeland.[13] She became Sarawak's first athlete to be accorded with the award.[14]
At the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Pandelela and Mun Yee clinch the bronze medal in 10m synchronized platform with 331.14 points. She also finished sixth in individual 10m platform event. At the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Naypyidaw, she retained her gold medal in 10m platform event.
Pandelela competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Despite a knee injury, she won the bronze medal in 10m synchronized platform with Nur Dhabitah Sabri.[15] She also bagged a silver in the 10m platform with a score of 368.55 points. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, she won the bronze medal in 10 m synchro platform with Leong Mun Yee.
In July 2015, Pandelela made history when she became the first Malaysian to finish on the podium in an individual event at the World Aquatics Championships.[16] She clinched a bronze medal in the individual 10 m platform in Kazan and qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.[17]
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she won the silver medal in the 10 m synchronized platform with Cheong Jun Hoong, becoming the first Malaysian women's team to win a silver medal at the Olympics.[18] In honour of her achievement at the 2016 Summer Olympics, The Sarawak Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya, Sarawak was officially named Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre.[19] After 2016 Summer Olympics, Pandelela took a break to recuperate from back and shoulder injuries.[20]
At the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, she won the bronze medal in 10 m synchronized platform with Cheong Jun Hoong. She finished ninth in the individual 10m platform which was won by her partner, Jun Hoong. At the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, she won the gold medal in newly introduced team event with Gabriel Gilbert Daim.[21] She also retained her gold medal in the individual 10m platform event.[22]
At the 2021 FINA Diving World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, she won the gold medal in the individual 10 m platform. She placed fourth in the synchronized 10 m platform together with Leong Mun Yee.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Pandelela and diving partner Leong Mun Yee finished eighth in the women's 10m synchronized platform.[23]
Awards edit
- SAM-100PLUS Best Athlete: 2010,[24] 2012,[25] 2015[26]
- National Sportswoman of the Year: 2011, 2012.[27] 2015,[28] 2021[29]
- Sarawak Sportswoman of the Year: 2010, 2011–12[30]
- NPC-Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin 1Malaysian of the Year: 2012[31]
- TM Fans Pick Awards – Glorious Moment: 2015[28]
- Sarawak Sports Youth Icon 2016[32]
- UM Sportswoman of the Year: 2016[33]
- UM Special Badge of University Sports[33]
- Yakult Sports Icon 2017[11]
Honours edit
Honours of Malaysia edit
- Malaysia :
- Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (2016)[34][35]
- Sarawak :
- Companion of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (JBK) (2016)[36]
- Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PSBS) – Dato (2021)[37][38]
Controversy edit
In June 2018, Pandelela and six other divers were caught in controversy after a video showed them partying and drinking alcohol during a training camp in Guangzhou, China. The video was allegedly recorded on the eve of Chinese New Year day.[39][40] Following the incident, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) suspended the allowances of the seven national divers with immediate effect with more disciplinary action set to follow.[41] Pandelela and the six other divers apologised publicly and promised the incident will not be repeated.[42] ASUM announced later that no further action will be taken to the seven divers as the divers have already expressed remorse for their actions.[43]
Legacy edit
Several places and honours were named after her, including:
- Sarawak Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya, Kuching was officially renamed the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in 2018.[44]
References edit
- ^ N. Rama Lohan (31 May 2015). "Pandelela Rinong: Diving into everyday life". star 2.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ . Kuala Lumpur 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ Vijesh Rai (10 August 2016). "(Olympic) Divers Cheong Jun Hoong and Pandelela Rinong win silver, first medal for Malaysia in Rio 2016". New Straits Times. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ "Pandelela – Shining example of true grit". Borneo Post. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ a b Jonathan Edward (11 August 2016). "Dad hopeful of gold soon for Pandelela". Malay Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Anasathia Jenis (11 August 2012). "Pamg over the moon with daughter's victory". Borneo Post. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Dennis Wong & Desmond Davidson (11 August 2012). "Pandelela does nation proud with medal win". New Straits Times. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ Dian Pasquinal Kaur (29 July 2016). "Bright Young Things: National diver Pandelela Rinong on the road to Rio". Asia Tatler.
- ^ Bernama (20 October 2018). "Pandelela to graduate from University Malaya on Tuesday". Borneo Post.
- ^ Christina Chin (21 October 2018). "Pandelela Rinong: Not your average student". The Star.
- ^ a b "Pandelela now a national unity icon". The Star. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ a b Zulhilmi Supaat (10 August 2012). "Pandelela, Malaysia's first woman to win Olympic medal". Borneo Post.
- ^ Dennis Wong (22 August 2012). "Sarawak confers award on diver Pandelela". New Straits Times. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ^ "Pandelela receives Johan Bintang Kenyalang award". The Star. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ Vijesh Rai (30 July 2014). "COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Surprise bronze for Pandelela". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ Ajitpal Singh (31 July 2015). "Historic win for Pandelela in World Aquatics Championships". New Straits Times. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
- ^ "Najib congratulates Pandelela for becoming first Malaysian athlete to qualify for Rio Olympics". Malay Mail. Bernama. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
- ^ "Olympics Primetime". Rio Olympics. 9 August 2016. NBC.
- ^ "Sarawak Aquatic Centre named after Pandelela Rinong". Free Malaysia Today. Bernama. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ^ Ajitpal Singh (5 February 2017). "Pandelela in control". New Straits Times.
- ^ Singh, Jugjet (26 August 2017). "KL2017: Malaysia sweep diving gold". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ Singh, Jugjet (28 August 2017). "KL2017: Pandelela retains gold in individual 10m platform". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "The medal wait continues as Pandelela-Mun Yee finish last". The Star. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Asan Ahmad (10 March 2011). "Pandelela wins SAM-100PLUS Sports Awards 2010". AIPS. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Pendelela Picks Up Second SAM-100PLUS Best Athlete Crown". FNBM. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Pandelela wins third SAM-100Plus best athlete award". Borneo Post. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Pandelela retains Sportswoman crown". Borneo Post. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ a b Eric Samuel (25 May 2016). "Pandelela, Al-Jufferi named as country's top athletes". The Star. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ Kalbana Perimbanayagam (31 January 2023). "Azizulhasni, Pandalela awarded highest national sports recognition". New Straits Times. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Pandelela Rinong crowned Sarawak sportswoman of the year, again". The Star. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Danny Tan (14 September 2012). "Pandelela Rinong awarded the NPC-Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin 1Malaysian of the Year award". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Pandelela is state's Sports Youth Icon". Borneo Post. Bernama. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Nauraj, Pandelela crowned UM Sportsman, Sportswoman of the Year 2016". Astro Awani. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ "303 individuals conferred Federal Awards today". New Straits Times. Bernama. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". istiadat.gov.my.
- ^ "Rewards, incentives await diving queen Pandelela". BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Ahmad Urai, Abdul Karim dan Pandelela antara penerima darjah kebesaran TYT Sarawak". 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ Ram, Sadho (9 October 2021). "Malaysian Olympian Pandelela Conferred Datukship By Sarawak". SAYS. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ "Pandelela, 6 others punished for drinking, partying during training stint". Free Malaysia Today. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ NSTP Sport (20 June 2018). "'Shameful videos' divers promise never to do it again". The Star. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ Lim Teik Huat (21 June 2018). "Pandelela and Co face the music for partying in China". The Star. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ Lim Teik Huat (22 June 2018). "Truly, deeply sorry". The Star. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "No further punishment for divers who broke drinking rule". The Star. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
- ^ "Sarawak Chief Minister opens Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre". The Sun Daily. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
Bibliography edit
- Indovino, Shaina (2005). Malaysian Superstars Athletes: Pandelela Rinong. Malaysia: Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia. ISBN 9789674303150.
External links edit
- Pandelela Rinong at World Aquatics
- Pandelela Rinong at IAT Database Diving (in German)
- Pandelela Rinong at Olympics.com
- Pandelela Rinong at Olympedia
- at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
- at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
- at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games (archived)