Energetic Athletic

Two weeks after the first semester had started in the year 1993; the school’s sport management had come out with the list for the new students to enter each of the sport’s team of that year. I was in Rosli Dhobi team which was supposed to be a blue color team. Since I was in primary school, my sport’s team color is always blue. Some believes that the blue are not fiery as a red. Huh! I don’t believe those things because I’m always believe my own strength. Besides, blue is always my favorite color. Whether win or lose that is still depending on the luck, spirit and strength but not the color. I don’t expect myself to enter any track and field competition but for the first time in my school’s life, I was participating in the sport. I don’t really like the sport but because the teacher had forced me to do it, I have no other choice. Compares to the competition, I don’t fancy parade either. I have to choose between parade and the competition. Therefore, I choose competition because it’s worth it when I’ve got my own medal. I want to know how it feels to get the medal. Is it something like I’ve won the inter-school competition? I don’t know and that’s the reason, I must check it out. Sulastrie and Dahliawaty had enters the yellow team which is Datuk Patinggi Ali’s team. There are four team which is Shariff Masahor for the green and Rentap for the red. The red was a favorite to win the competition because they’ve got many good athletes. It never breaks my spirit. Somehow, this is the big matter to some students and I don’t really like the way my seniors thought. Damn, so stupid! That’s what they are.

The first meeting at the school’s hall, everyone gets to know with each other. I don’t have many classmates that supposed to be my favorite friends in the class. I’m just sitting there and wait until someone’s calls my name. The first agenda, they’ve talked about choosing the leader of the team among the students. Then, the teachers had decided to choose some students to participate in the parade. Because I don’t like parade, I’ve decided to go for the competition. I refused to go even the teacher had asked me to go. I’ve writes my own name under the field competition spontaneously. Therefore, I’ve chose javelin. I like javelin very much but I’m really don’t know how to play it. Luckily, these few years, I watch the Olympic Games for three times. From Olympic Games in Los Angeles 1984, then in South Korea in 1988 and finally at Barcelona in 1992, I get to know which sport that suits in me. I think javelin is the one. I never ever choose the shot put or long jump but somehow someone had list my name at long jump competition which I don’t really like it a lot. The teacher knows that I am not the one that suits for the track athletes. Aha! Thanks to my overweight body-figure that time. It helps me anyway. I’m quickly back at home and tell my parent that I was chosen to become one of the athletes. My parent was seems to be very surprise because they know I am not keen for the athletic sport. My mum started to against my decision. She was quite disagreeing with my decision but my dad had quickly back me up because it was one of the days that I must enjoy the activities in the school. I thanked my dad to back me up.

From that day, I’m started to come for the training, twice a week. I’ve come every Tuesday and Thursday. It makes me almost missed my favorite Japanese anime – Flashman every Thursday because it started at 5p.m. and the training started from 3:30p.m till 5p.m. Sometimes the training took for two hours. I hate it very much although I’m enjoyed the sport activities. Some other times, I feel giving up on myself. With my overweight size, surely, I can’t beat the skinny and active person. Suddenly, why I think like that? Since when, I’m giving up at the first place? If I can be the champion in academic world, why not in the athletic world? Therefore, from that moment, I am never ever looks down on my own strength. The overweight and the skinny, that kind of thoughts, I have to forget about it and deal with it later because I have lots of work to do. There’s something that I’m always wanted to prove about myself. If my mum can be the champion in this field when she was young, why not I’m gives a try? I don’t care if Laura laughed at me because I’m going to prove to her that I’ll bring at least one medal to home. I don’t care what kind of colors I will get. Gold, silver or bronze, what does really matter to me now is all about me. Move over everyone, here come the monster! I hope this one will work. After all, I can feel myself how to become a champion for a day because I’m always wanted to receive a medal at the podium. I have this kind of imagination last time. I want to perform my sports talent in Olympics someday, if I could do that. What I’ve done had a lot of risks. I know my mum will not going to like it. She doesn’t really want me to involve in sports because she doesn’t want me to receive a same fate as hers. Actually, she got injured and was forced to forget about this field forever. I’m really sorry for her but I have to do this. Once in my lifetime, I want to reach that Olympians dream.

Three weeks before the event, I was running late to home again. When I saw my watch, it’s almost 5p.m. Oh God, that day was Thursday and I need to go home to watch my favorite anime. After the teacher take on of our absentees, I was quickly running back home. On the field, I saw a group of students having an assembly while the teachers are giving them a word of motivation – that’s what they call it. I don’t really care about it. I think it’s full of crap! Luckily, I’m coming 10 minutes the show was started. I was very tired but still I’m spending my time to watch it. About 6p.m. when the news takes over the show, I’m taking a bath and the dinner afterwards. On the next day, when I’m at the school, Lin came with the other classmates had reached me. My mind was dazed in puzzle. She’d started to ask if I’m wears the pink tracksuits with the white shirts, yesterday afternoon. I said yes. She asked me if I’m running back home. I said yes again but I don’t understand her questions. Then, she’d started to explain to me that yesterday, Miss Thilaga (We call her Miss Thila) told them to look at the back at the fat girl who jogs from school to her home because she’s wanted to become a champion. I was really lost in confusion although I’m amazed with Miss Thilaga’s complement. Anyway, thanks Miss Thila, I need that complement to boost the sportsmanship spirit in my soul. As for the girls in my class, they had gone with their conversation which I don’t need to hear from them anymore. I don’t know they like what the see yesterday but all I know I just wanted to go home and watch my fave anime. I never ever told this secret until I spoilt it here in MSOD. After the incident, I think everybody had started to attend the training. Gosh, what kind of revolution I brought to the school. All I know I brought a good and bad effect in myself. For the good one, I know I’ve become the good example and the bad side is I creates more enemies which some of them really not fancy someone like me.

The day before the event, everyone who participates in the competition was started to confirm in the event that they’re in. I’ve got three events that I have to participate such as javelin and long jump. I don’t really like long jump because I know my body is heavy. There’s something fishy about all of this but anyway, whether he/she purposely done the bullying things on me or it’s just slipped away from their eyes, all I wanted to do to prove that I’m not going back with the empty hand. They’ll see. I’ll get that medal for myself. Sulastrie had asked me if I’m participating in parade. I’ve told her that I’m not really into a ‘soldier thing’ but anyway, I’m wishing her luck during the parade competition for the next day. She’d also wish me luck for me as well. Regina Jimbun come and she’d told me she’ll be involved in parade as well. She’s actually in the same sport house with mine. All I can say about the others athlete in Rosli Dhobi is totally toast! We’ve got bad promotion from the first day but wait until they’ve seen the miracle yet. That night, I was thinking about a lot of thing in my mind. I’m thinking about the first ever time I’ve become the athlete. I keep on questioning myself whether I could do it. I know my mum was the first person who against my decision and was wondering if I could impress her like what I did before. Well, it will be answered, tomorrow. On the next day, around 6a.m, I’m waking up without nobody needs to wake me up as usual. Once again, my dad had replay the same word that he’d always express to me during the competition. “Everytime, there’s the competition she’s always waking up early!”, that’s the word that always told my dad to my mum. No matter what kind of competition and contest, I’m always wake up early but which some other time my mum would replies to him that, “Isn’t it nice when she’s always done the same thing when there’s no competition or contest?”. Sometimes, she wishes there’s always a contest or competition for me to involve, so I can get up early.

I’m a person who’s very hard to get up early. That’s the reason my mum had always to wake me up. I think she’s right at the part when she wishes for more contest and competition for me to involve. Well, this is the intro part and she’ll see the next months and years to come. On 6:30a.m. I’ve take a ride with my dad to the school. At the school, I went to the class and waiting for the teacher to take our absentees. Suda had already complained and so the others students. Lucas came and asked if I’m involving in the parade. I shook my head that I have a competition on the first day. The first day is not big as the second day because the second day, the event is officially started. They will bring the VIPs to officiate the sport. I’m always hates that because I hate to stand longer under the sun. My first event was long jump. It’s really hard kind of sport but I’m trying. The other competitors seem to be skinnier than me. Of course, they’re jump farther than mine. Oh well, what can I do? I must finish this no matter what it takes. At the end of the days, I don’t win any medal but I’m still hoping at least one. I went home with a happy face because somehow, there’s still a chance for me to perform my strength at the second event which I’m going participate on the next day. When I got home, my mum asked me for the medal. My answers, I’m shook my head but I’m promise I’ll get one for her. No matter what color it was, I will have it! I sleep quite early that night because I’m prepares for tomorrow. I can feel the pain at my back and I was hoping it will not become a serious. On the next day, I get up early once again. I feel little awkward because that day was Saturday. I’m always getting up late around 8a.m. to 9a.m. But that day, I have to get up around 6a.m. I must admit, I hate waking up early on Saturday but I don’t have any choice because the teacher will be taken the absentees.

On that early morning, someone had given me a call. It’s Sulastrie and she calls me if I’m bringing a bag to school. Of course, not but yes, I’ll bring the little one to put my things inside. That’s definitely a bottle of drink. I went to the school that day at 6:30a.m. Lin and David are already at the class. Both of them excited about the medal position between the greens and the reds. Yea, it seems like the reds is on the lead. My team, the blues, gosh, we’re in the last place. I didn’t want to comment much about my team but what I do feel is a little upset about our team’s performance. Why oh why the blues always received the bad luck? I’m always questioned that since I was in the primary school. Sulastrie came only with a bottle of drink. She’d told me again that she hates parade. Well, for me, she has to be happy with it because she’s not only involved in parade but she’s also involved in Red Crescent. She’s only stay in the sun for about two hours while me; I have to stay for more 2 hours. I have a lot of job to do that day and it’s involved the job working under the sun. My skin, ughh!!! It’s going to burn out. After taken the absentees from the teacher, Lin came to me and had wishing me good luck. I’m just smiling to her. She’s also told me that she’d become a DJ and she saw my name on some song dedication. Well, I said thank you for reading it later to me. What a day that I’ve got. It’s going to be the bomb! I went to the school’s field with Sulastrie and prepares for the parade event. We’re also waiting for the VIPs to come. Suddenly, Dahliawaty came with a happy face. She’d told me that she was also participated in the parade. She loves parade than me and Sulastrie. She’s not only participated in the parade but also discus event. I thought it was cool and by the way, Laura also had involved in that event too. Laura also had taken the high jump as well. Then, I wish her good luck.

After the VIPs had come to the school, the event was successfully officiates with the parade as an opening. I was sitting at our blues camp. All I can say about our camp is little bit awful. I’m not going to complain about because I have to admit, it’s really true. I’m not surprise when our team doesn’t receive any prize for the best camp. That’s really bullshit, I thought. My event had started on 9.30a.m. I can say all my competitors were better than me. Look at that tall Chinese girl with pretty spectacles. Of course, it’s Ming Ing. I don’t really know her until we’re both had been introduced by the teacher at that event. We’ve become a mutual friend which she’d become my best friends at the end, four years before I graduate from secondary school. I was really wondering if I can throw farther than her and from anyone else here. Everyone seems to be tougher than me. I was little bit afraid but suddenly, when I remember about my mum, I have to do it. I have to bring that medal home. Any colors will do, I thought. Our team had sent two competitors. I can’t remember the name of the girl that had sent with me but I know she’s not that better. I’m giving a hope on her but it seems like I can’t depend on her that much, I’ll do it all by myself. We have eight trials. The first until the fourth trials, my performance seems to be not really good. I’m sure I can throw farther than the first until the fourth attempts. We’re having a break about 10 minutes. I sit down while watching the other athletes on the track. Ming Ing had approached at me and we’re sitting together waiting for the 1500m hurdlers event to be started. She asked me who’s my favorite team to win the hurdles event. Well, I don’t know but I would like to cheer up for my own team. She was really impressed with my loyalty to my own team. Both of us know that whether the reds or greens will win the race.

As the event had started, everybody started to cheer up. That’s including me and Ming Ing. Surprisingly, our team had won the hurdles. We’re both wondering for a while and looking at each other. Ming Ing told me that my loyalty had paid up. I was answers her question with a smile in my face. When, Mr. Fred had called us again to continue for more trials, once again she wished me good luck. I wish her the same way too. My first trial after the break, I take my time for a while. I breathe in and out. I can feel my heartbeat on my chest beating in the normal condition. In my mind, I was imagined I was in the middle of stadium which I was performed in front thousand of supporters. I look at the banner, it was an Olympic Games. I step two steps to the back and ready to run. Then, I ran until the white line and I was throwing the javelin as far as I could. As I look at the javelin that I’ve thrown, all I can wait is how far it will be fall. Is it better than the first four trials that I’ve done before? Everyone waited anxiously. As it reached down to earth, all I can hear, everyone given me a clap. Am I dreaming or something? As far as I can see, I’ve been the third best. Then, my imagination had stopped as all the things that I saw change into reality. Ming Ing had giving me a thumb up. She’s really like what I’ve done. She takes a turn after two competitors take their turn. As far as I can see, Ming Ing had a better performance than me because for one thing she had an advantage over me. She’s taller and more energetic. That doesn’t mean I’ve got to give up. The second best thrower was the athlete from Rentap (the reds). I can’t remember her name but I know she was from the form 3 student. She’s the skinny tall senior but all I can say that she’s okay. For all four attempts, I’m still can’t beat Ming Ing and that girl. Well, I guess I knew what kind of medal that I brought home for my mum to see. I’m still happy and next year, I’ll do the best that I could.

Mr. Fred had told us that we have to wait for the ceremony this afternoon. Ming Ing and I just look at each other with a smile in our face. We’re all gone back after taken all the confirmation from Mr. Fred. Sengayan ran into me and asked did I win something for the blues. I’m quickly excited and told her that I win something but I was the third champion. She congratulates me and can’t wait for another event to come. I’ve congratulates her for winning the gold in 100m athletics. On afternoon time, Sulastrie, Dahliawaty and I were sitting together while enjoying the food that we bought together at the canteen while listening to the song dedication. Dahliawaty had always wanted to listen to Take That. I was wondering who’s the member had hit her heart. All I can think of wither Owen or Barlow. I don’t think it’s going to be Mr. Williams. I don’t know this pop band much but all I can say about it’s good. Suddenly, Sulastrie had told us that she listens to my dedication. “Hey, that’s Flashman!” she’d told me. “Of course, it’s Flashman! I want to be the unknown superheroes.” I replied to her question. After reading all the dedication finally, our favorite song calls, ‘Untukmu’ by Feminin had been played on the air. “Isn’t it nice to hear our own Malaysian rap female singer?” told Dahliawaty to both of us. Sulastrie and I just agreed with her and continuing chatting about something else. We feel that the teacher is quite unfair because most of good athletes at the reds (Rentap) and greens (Shariff Masahor) side. While ours is run like an idiot! Some even run like sissy and some looks like some kind of disable robot that had been damaged by a virus. Well, for one thing, the sissy boy is better than the norm boy. They even run like the real energetic athletes that I’ve ever seen in my life. Like for example, Awang Gadot and Abang, the two boys are our senior sissy boy but still the run like real norm boy. I can’t think a single thing why it’s just being in this way. I guess not everyone like to involve in sport or parade. Anyway, I’m enjoying it very much because I’m going to show what I had from the competition today.

2p.m. and the final four events were 1500m and 3000m athletics event for boys and girls. I just love cheering with my other team mates. Although, I didn’t really know if the cheer for me as I win the third place for the javelin event but I’m sure they’ll happy for it. When I look at the billboard, Rosli Dhobi is already at number 3. That’s okay for me because it still brings lots of luck. I saw Ming Ing at her camp shouting and cheering to her team mates. The last four events, our team only win the gold medal 3000m for boys and girls. Cool! That’s the first thing had been crossed into my mind. Finally, it’s the grand prize ceremony is to be announced. After 100m hurdles, 400m and 800m athletics winners had been announced, it’s time for the javelin event to take a centre of the stage. When our blues go for the bronze, my team mates were cheering up for me. I walked proudly to the podium and received the medal from the principle. Although, this is not really the color to please my team mates but anyway, it’s nice to feel to stand in the podium. Second was that unknown girl from Rentap team (red) and the gold goes to Ming Ing from Shariff Masahor (green). At last, the principle had announced that the winning team for the school’s event goes to Rentap team (red). Well, as we’re at the third, for me, that’s doesn’t really matter. We’re all the champions and we’re thankful for someone cheering up for me. I brought the bronze medal to home with proud feeling in my heart. As I got home, my dad’s colleague – Mr. Langan had asked if I won something for the athletics. As I’m only grin to him, I show him the bronze medal. He smiled at me back and continues gardening. I’m quickly running back home and showed to my mum what I’ve got. Oh well, I just realized she’s not home with my dad. However, I’ll wait for the night to show her because she’d gone with my dad to our fruit’s garden at my grandmother’s home.

That late evening my dad and my mum had coming home from our fruit’s garden. Both of them still tired. I don’t want to tell them until they’d asked about it. During dinner time, then, my dad had asked me about the medal that I’ve got. After finished the dinner, I’m showing him the color of my medal. He’d told me that it must be hard to get the third place but anyway, he was very proud of me. My mum came along and saw it too. She’s just smiling and didn’t say anything about it. Only few months later, she’d asked me if I’m still going for this event next year. I’m proudly answers to her that I will come back to get another medal. Obviously, she was happy for me. I know she didn’t want to get hurt but to pursue some dreams perhaps, hurt, helps a lot to build the success. On Monday morning after the sport competition, Lin came to me and congratulates to me once again upon the success that I’ve got last week. While I thanked her, I’m started to complain that all my body feels the pain. “It’s normal!” responded Sengayan who came all the way. I guess she’s right after all. That because I was seldom takes an exercise. From that moment, I’ve decided to do some exercise. As what I’m afraid for, it’s all coming true. My skin had burn but I’m sure for few weeks, it will be okay. All I have to pursue now is to give a support to some of our team mates that had successfully enters the Bintulu Sport inter-school competition. I’m hoping we’ve got something to be proud of. What I learned from the sport that I had attended, if I couldn’t make it at the first place, there’s always a chance for me to make it better. After more than 10 years, I think I want to come back that moment and I’m always wanted someone cheering me up just like the old days. Perhaps, I’m not keen in the sport anymore but I’m still number one fan of athletic sport. I never missed Olympics and SEA Games. If I’m given a chance to live again in this world, I wanted to be one of the famous athletes in this world. This dream is so real but maybe it will give a chance to someone else to live this dream for me.