National sprinter Zaidatul Husniah represented Malaysia in the 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games.
Looking back over her long career and all the rivals she had, she described her biggest opponent would be the Philipines and Thailand.
There have been amazing performances from the 28-year-old sprinter who has won several medals in her career. But behind the triumphs are also stories of personal failures and setbacks for her when she could not make it to the podium.
Zaidatul’s 5-time SEA Games participation captures the essence of the biennial multi-sport event in all its victory and defeats an athlete has to live through.
A two-year hiatus after the big international games, how have you mentally prepared yourself prior to the Hanoi SEA Games?
My preparation journey for the Hanoi 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) has been tough as I had to undergo knee surgery, hence I only had eight months to train.
However, I am utterly grateful that I managed to get my running rhythm back as I qualified to represent Malaysia in this year’s SEA Games. This can never happen without the never-ending support of my family and friends, and my Under Armour family.
They have been my pillar of strength and my form of encouragement. Apart from the emotional support, Under Armour has also given me scientifically engineered performance gears and equipment needed to help with my training (towards the SEA Games).
What are the challenges faced by you and how do you cope with the 2022 edition?
The recent knee surgery was challenging for me as an athlete as my legs are key to being a sprinter, but I did not keep this from getting in my way. I set a goal, decided to focus my efforts on training, and tried at all costs to prevent further injuries. Honestly, I’m glad my efforts paid off, and I qualified for the SEA Games!
Under Armour’s brand message “The Only Way Is Through” really speaks to me as an athlete and it is my form of motivation as I go through the different stages of trials and tribulations. It helps me to continue staying on course to come out better and stronger on the other side.
You have just completed the 100, 200, and 4X100m, share with us your experience of the run.
Overall, it went quite well. For 200m, I broke my season record which was 24.0 seconds. For 4 x 100m, my team and I managed to get the Bronze medal.
However, for the 100m, I did not get to achieve my target – which is to be on the podium. However, this does not mean I did not give my best. I will get back up again and give my best for the next competition because “The Only Way Is Through”.
