Flashback: Outstanding Student Achievement

In 2009, A group of inclusive education students from my school achieved a major milestone in sports for the nation. My Principal still gloats over their success. The following is a report I wrote for the school bulletin:

The Malaysian Floor Hockey team scored a remarkable success in the Special Olympics World Winter Games held recently in Idaho, USA, on 12 February 2009 with a silver medal winning performance. The feat is particularly significant to SMK St. XXX, as seven of the team players are inclusive students from the school. They are: Syarulnizam Raslan, Geoffrey Rodyean, Siew Yong Hock, Sylvester Bony Tanjong, Harundin Awang Ibrahim, Mohammad Affendie Yong and Aldryn Alau.

The sixteen-member team is the embodiment of the ‘Malaysia Boleh’ spirit. They scored successive wins after incurring two defeats on the first and second days of the round robin preliminaries. The uplifting rebound brought them to the semi finals, in which they outplayed the host USA Red team 8-0. They then re-encountered El Salvador, a highly seasoned team which had beaten them 12-3 in the round robin, in the gold-clinching final. Undeterred by the previous defeat, the boys gave it their all with marked improvements in their attack and defence strategy. Though going down to the Latin American team 1-5 at the end, the boys made history for Malaysia by taking silver in their sensational debut in the world-level meet..

To prepare for the Olympics, the boys had been attending centralized training in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from 31 January to 2nd February. They left for Idaho on 3rd February. A special fund-raising project, Hokiton, was set up to lighten their financial burden on the trip to Idaho. Without the commitment and support, success for the seven would not have been possible.

Away from the sports field, however, the young athletes enjoyed their experience of America. The warmth and hospitality of the host families made them feel at home, and there was much to be learnt in the mutual exchange of cultures. Being taken around on a sightseeing tour brought them into their first encounter with snow, which was “thrilling” for all. They were also given free medical check-ups at the Idaho Medical Centre.

One member of the team, Siew Yong Hock, caught the attention of the media. When asked on how he felt about participating in the Winter Special Olympics, the boy told reporters that he was proud and grateful to have been chosen to represent Malaysia for the Olympics, along with his fellow schoolmates. They all knew why they were there: with hard work, determination and dedication, nothing is impossible.

The athletes left Idaho for Miri on 14 February, a day after the games concluded. They reached Miri airport at night on 16 February to a heroic welcome from our Principal, teachers and their parents. During the morning and afternoon assemblies on 23rd February, the Principal commended the seven Olympians on doing the nation and the school proud and described them as role models for all students to emulate in their pursuit of excellence.