Kekuatan Bukan Datang Dari Kaki

When I was in my primary and secondary school, everybody knew who I was. For one reason, I always get medals in athletics fields, busy representing Penang state at national level competitions, and always get champion in cross countries (approx 7km) at school level.

On top of that, I gotten no. 11th in 2006 Penang Bridge Run (10km), finished within 45 minutes.

My personal best for my best event, 400m, was 53.0 s, and consistently clocking between 54 - 55 s for the past 6 years even though without much training. All thanks to my coach, Mr. Suntheren.

Mr. Suntheren a/l Gopal, was a SEA game prominent athlete when he was young. He was the coach who identified my strength, guided me though, and taught me how to train myself even though one day I left his team. He was, and still is an excellent English teacher, guess still teaching in Chung Ling High School, my alma mater.

My competitors respected me as how much I respected them.

They were puzzled by the fact that I am a small size guy, yet could beat them, who obviously have the physical competitive advantage over me. Those who looked down at me will very regret at the finishing line. To be honest, I have tremendous fear while competing with them too. But, I stayed focus in every match. I will draw few deep breathes when I was on the track to calm myself down, remain focused and believe, believe and believe. When the gunshot was heard, I stride off from the starter block.

The first 100m is important to me, psychologically. I will make sure I am in the first or running close to the forefront runners.

The second 100m I will maintain.

The third 100m is a curved path. And, it is really a game of intelligence. I would run on the leftest inner line of the track and keep focusing and pushing myself to draw nearer other runners. Normally, I will succeed in taking over the other runners little by little. By the end of 300m, I am usually in the top 5.

The last 100m is a total struggle. Many supporters were shouting aloud in the stadium. I can heard my competitors footsteps drawing nearer to me from behind, and have to keep on pushing to take over the runners ahead of me. My legs were already tiring.

Then, I will recite “人有无限力量” in my mind, meaning every human has limitless potentials, as part of the efforts of restoring my own belief.
The last 50m before crossing the finishing lines, I keep on pushing myself forward as I recite this "我不可以输，一定要赢“ in my mind, meaning I cannot lose, I must win. The miracle usually favoured me. As I am about to cross the finishing lines, I bent my body forward gracefully at a 45 degree. Cross! I usually make it in top 3. And, I am usually the only Chinese, in a game commonly dominated by other races.

Athletics is a test of perseverance and leadership. I believe I learnt leadership earliest from the moment I started to run in a relay team (in a competition). I could still remember there was a time where my 4 x 400m relay team was not the best one among other teams. I said so because the other teams have many medals for their personal events whereas my teammates were beyond their match. I am fine if they could be better than us, but I was a little frustrated that my teammates were AFRAID of them. So, I took efforts to motivate them, assured them that we couldn't be that worst as you thoght, never try never know, fight our very best, nothing is impossible, all sort of positive uplifting words. So, what do you think, will this be effective? I still don't know actually. But their eyes signaled appreciation and shown the determination to fight TOGETHER with me. To me, it's already enough to achieve the state of togetherness, because there are plenty things outside there beyond this competition alone, and what matters is the willingness to fight together to achieve an end, repeat, willingness to fight together.

So, the relay competition started. "Bang!" the gunshot was heard, the runners started to dash in their fullest might. We can't talk much anymore once the competition started. But we could still look at each other, signalling our positive encouragement for each other. The second batons were all ready to receive baton from the first baton. "Up!" Hand raised up and catch the baton. Legs started to stride again. The third batons were all moving forward. I was usually the third or last baton. If I were the third baton, after passing to my last baton comrade, as he drew closer to the last 100 m, I will shout like nobody's else business, and kept on shouting his name, asking him to fight till the very end. The match ended. We did not end up last in the final at least. On top of that, I knew we have tried our very best.

If I were the organizer, I would confer my team a special award, the Champion of Perseverance.

To me, every physical match is not a competition of physical strength alone, but rather it is a test of mental fitness more.

Years back, there was a Milo advertisement billboard on roadside that depicted a message like this "Kekuatan adalah dari hati, bukanlah dari kaki.". It rings some truths =)


I am going to create the next ultra wealth together with my teams, using the same principle, because it's proven to be successful. My friends, you all can do it.