HO LEE CHING http://www.sports247.my/2012/12/the-joey-of-diving-and-dancing/
IF there was a parallel universe, national diver Loh Zhiayi said she would want to be a dancer.
Nicknamed “Joey”, the 15-year-old had taken ballet classes when she was nine but had to quit after she took up diving.
“Diving and ballet classes used to clash all the time. I remember getting scolded by the diving coach because I used to skip classes just to attend ballet. So my mother told me to choose one. The diving classes were free but ballet was not. So I went with diving and here I am today,” said Joey.
Joey’s best achievement so far is winning two bronze medals in the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai last month – the 10-metre platform and 3-metre springboard synchronised with 22-year-old Cheong Jun Hoong.
When asked how she got to know about diving, Joey giggled and took a while trying to explain this:
Back in Kepong, Wendy Ng Yan Yee, who is also a national diver, used to attend gymrama classes with her elder sister. During one of those classes, Wendy’s mother introduced diving to Joey’s mother and so, she was taken to try it out at the Cheras Swimming Complex.
“During the first meet-up with the coach, I was told to jump on the trampoline. I had so much fun. Really, it was my first time on the trampoline and I fell in love with it immediately,” said Joey.
The coach then agreed to take Joey in due to her small body frame which, he said, suited the sport.
“I was enjoying myself with diving as I was winning quite a lot. My first Sukma was at 11, but I soon realised I had to give up so many things just to dive. I had no more time for friends or family, but I had to get used to it,” said Joey who then joked that she would feel empty if there were no training sessions.
“But I guess, the little time you have with your family and friends makes you appreciate every moment more,” added Joey.
When asked about dancing, Joey said she would not mind going for classes if she had the chance. What is surprising is that the former ballet student would actually take breakdancing classes as opposed to contemporary or jazz.
As for now, Joey is happy learning breakdancing moves through YouTube and music videos, while working hard to achieve better results in diving.
“Like every athlete, I would want to win in the Olympics. I want to be like Pandelela Rinong.”
 |
| Loh Zhiayi |
Nicknamed “Joey”, the 15-year-old had taken ballet classes when she was nine but had to quit after she took up diving.
“Diving and ballet classes used to clash all the time. I remember getting scolded by the diving coach because I used to skip classes just to attend ballet. So my mother told me to choose one. The diving classes were free but ballet was not. So I went with diving and here I am today,” said Joey.
Joey’s best achievement so far is winning two bronze medals in the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai last month – the 10-metre platform and 3-metre springboard synchronised with 22-year-old Cheong Jun Hoong.
When asked how she got to know about diving, Joey giggled and took a while trying to explain this:
Back in Kepong, Wendy Ng Yan Yee, who is also a national diver, used to attend gymrama classes with her elder sister. During one of those classes, Wendy’s mother introduced diving to Joey’s mother and so, she was taken to try it out at the Cheras Swimming Complex.
“During the first meet-up with the coach, I was told to jump on the trampoline. I had so much fun. Really, it was my first time on the trampoline and I fell in love with it immediately,” said Joey.
The coach then agreed to take Joey in due to her small body frame which, he said, suited the sport.
“I was enjoying myself with diving as I was winning quite a lot. My first Sukma was at 11, but I soon realised I had to give up so many things just to dive. I had no more time for friends or family, but I had to get used to it,” said Joey who then joked that she would feel empty if there were no training sessions.
“But I guess, the little time you have with your family and friends makes you appreciate every moment more,” added Joey.
When asked about dancing, Joey said she would not mind going for classes if she had the chance. What is surprising is that the former ballet student would actually take breakdancing classes as opposed to contemporary or jazz.
As for now, Joey is happy learning breakdancing moves through YouTube and music videos, while working hard to achieve better results in diving.
“Like every athlete, I would want to win in the Olympics. I want to be like Pandelela Rinong.”
No comments:
Post a Comment