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Kota Kinabalu: Swimmer Emmanuel Loh, 15, made heads turn at the recent Sukma 2024 Games in Sarawak as the only male medallist from Sabah since the 2018 edition in Perak.

Earning a bronze in the 100m men’s breaststroke was a significant milestone for the State.

Both Emmanuel and Rachel Chu, 19, delivered outstanding performances at Sukma. 

It was Emmanuel’s debut, while Rachel, who competed in 2018 and 2022, added a wealth of experience to the team. 

Emmanuel’s bronze medal, along with improving his own personal best time and record, was a remarkable achievement, as noted by his coach, Tammy Wong.

“Competing against much older and more experienced swimmers, getting on the podium was truly unexpected and fulfilling,” Emmanuel shared. 

He expressed his gratitude to his coaches and supporting team members, particularly Tammy, for their guidance and all the support from fellow team members and SEA Dragon swim mates. 

Reflecting on his Sukma experience, he highlighted the joy of meeting new people, engaging with them after races, and the emotional moment of receiving his medal with the Sabah flag behind him on the podium. 

“Receiving the medal was really touching, especially since it was my first Sukma,” he said. 

He also learned valuable lessons about performing under pressure, which he believed would aid him in future competitions. 

“Competing with more experienced swimmers brings a lot of pressure. I need to work on my mental toughness to stay calm,” he admitted. 

He is confident that mastering the skill would prepare him for more big and important competitions.

Being the youngest competitor among all the other states’ swimmers, turning 15 only two days into the Sukma competition, he emphasised the importance of enjoying the sport and celebrating small victories. 

He advised aspiring swimmers to stay dedicated and passionate to achieve success. Being disciplined and level headed at all times, helps a lot too. 

He draws inspiration from several others, including Andrew Goh, the gold medallist from Selangor, and his teammate Rachel.

Looking ahead, he has ambitious goals for his swimming career. While he dreams of participating in the Olympics one day, he is currently focused on doing well at the coming SEAAGE (South East Asia Age Group competition) in Bangkok this December in which he would be representing Malaysia.  

“For now, I am concentrating on improving every day,” he explained.

Emmanuel’s father, Matthew, praised his son’s achievements, describing it as a true ‘David vs. Goliath’ moment. Competing against older, more seasoned swimmers, Emmanuel’s success set his determination and skill, proving that even the youngest athletes could excel with hard work and dedication.

Rachel, another talented Sabahan swimmer, had an impressive performance winning four medals – one silver in the 1500m freestyle and three bronzes in the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay. 

“Participating in Sukma was a great experience, allowing me to compete with top swimmers from across Malaysia. It motivated me to improve and compete harder,” Rachel said.

Winning four medals was a memorable achievement for her, who noted that she focused on each event and gave her best performance. 

Despite training challenges, including outdoor pool conditions due to the closure of their regular facility a year prior to Sukma, she expressed gratitude to her coach, Tammy and family for their support.

Tammy praised both Emmanuel and Rachel for their dedication and accomplishments, saying their success marked a promising future for Sabahans swimming on the national stage.