Pandelela turns her focus towards LA Olympics
when many thought that Pandelela Rinong is over the hill, the diver is now determined to defy age and win honours for the country.
Though the Sarawakian had failed to qualify for this year’s Olympics, she is already looking at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Olympics Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president Datuk Hamidin Amin said Pandalela, who will turn 31 next month. will be looking to qualify for the 2028 LA Olympics.
Though she will be 35 by then, Pandelela hopes to make amends at the 2028 LA Olympics.
Pandelela and 12 other national divers had a dismal outing at the recent Doha World Aquatics Championships, which also doubled up as an Olympic qualifier. No Malaysian divers qualified for the Paris Olympics from Doha.
“The Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) honorary secretary briefed us that Pandalela and Dhabitah were out. I saw their performances in Doha, they had injuries and did not perform,” said Hamidin who is the Chef de Mission for the Paris Olympics.
“Pandelela and Nur Dhabitah Sabri are going to prepare for the LA Olympics, they are mentally strong. They are seniors, they know their pluses and minuses, they have one more Olympics in four years’ time.”
Pandelela, who made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008, had never failed to qualify for the individual event before.
She, however, has been battling various injuries in recent seasons, and has apologised for not living up to expectations.
Pandelela became the first Malaysian woman to win an Olympic medal when she claimed bronze in the 10m platform individual event at London in 2012. It was also the first time Malaysia had won a medal in a
sport other than badminton at the Olympics. She then backed it up with a silver in the 10m platform synchro with Cheong Jun Hoong at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
If Pandelela wins a gold at the 2028 Olympics, she will beat China legend Wu Minxia’s achievement. Minxia holds the record of being the oldest person to win an Olympic diving gold at the age of 30 years 271 days.