KUALA LUMPUR – When national track cycling champion Datuk Azizulhasni Awang publicly declared his ambition to bring home the gold for Malaysia from the Paris Olympics four months ago, in a press conference at the National Velodrome, Nilai, it was a bold statement from someone shouldering the hopes of nearly 34 million Malaysians.
He is determined to win the gold medal in his final Olympics, after having secured silver at Tokyo 2020 in the keirin event, following his bronze in Rio 2016.
However, concerns have arisen as Azizulhasni is not only advancing in age, now 36, but the cyclist also has a history of heart issues.
It seems Malaysia is returning to the era of relying on seasoned athletes like badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who continued to sweat it out at the age of 34 during his campaign at Rio 2016.
It was there that he missed out again on the gold medal after losing to China’s Chen Long in the finals.
Back to Azizulhasni, compared in terms of age to his competitors in Paris, the Terengganu born cyclist is the oldest among them, with some of his rivals being 10 years younger than him.
Nonetheless, one distinguishing feature that sets him apart from other athletes is his winning mentality, which has enabled him to overcome numerous challenges and adversities throughout his career.
“I believe every athlete can have discipline, they can have spirit, they can have goals to win gold and so on, but what sets them apart is mentality, and that’s what separates whether you are a national athlete or a world-class athlete.
“For example, you wake up early to train, intense training. We go every day to give 100% effort and commitment. During Ramadan, we fast but we train as if we are in a competition.
“For me, that’s the way of a world-class athlete, and at the same time, you have to realise the journey won’t go as expected.
“The outcomes will be different, there will be many possibilities and struggles even though you plan, and based on my experience, one plus one doesn’t always make two, it could become eight or ten.
“For instance, myself, training hard but suddenly detected with heart problems, then after surgery, unexpectedly diagnosed with Pericarditis.
“It’s not going to be a smooth journey, but you need to be prepared and strong. If you have determination like that, trust the process and God willing, success will be on your side,” said Azizul.
Although Azizulhasni ranks eighth in the world for elite men’s keirin events, he is still considered a top contender in Paris due to several titles he has won this year, including the UCI Nations Cup in Adelaide in February, and securing third place in the Japan Track Cup Championship in May.
Currently, he is undergoing training alongside teammates Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati under the guidance of their mentor, John Beasley, in Mallorca, Spain.
Additionally, he received an added boost when he was given a new bike, the WX-R Vorteq, which will be the bike he uses to compete at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Vélodrome in Paris.
If Azizulhasni, dubbed “The Pocket Rocketman”, succeeds in winning the gold medal in Paris, it will not only end Malaysia’s 68-year wait for Olympic gold, but also complete his medal collection at the world’s largest sporting event. – July 23, 2024