PANDELELA RINONG

DIVING: WOMEN’S 10 M PLATFORM, WOMEN’S SYNCHRONISED 10M PLATFORM

An Olympian through and through, this year would be Pandelela’s fourth Olympic outing and she has been training for this moment ever since the last Games.

The diver first represented Malaysia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, finishing 27th in the 10m platform event, but this moment served as a stepping stone, helping her gain confidence for the 2010 Commonwealth Games where she earned her first gold.

Chosen as the flagbearer of the 2012 Summer Olympics, the historic year saw Pandelela become the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympic medal - bronze in 10m platform - and the first in any sport other than badminton. Gaining momentum, in 2016 the 28 year old Sarawakian won the silver medal with Cheong Jun Hoong at the Rio Summer Olympics for the 10m synchronised platform.

Training since the age of 14, Pandelela competes in two events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics - the Women’s 10m platform and Women’s Synchronised 10m platform - two sporting events she has taken part in all her life.