This 16-Year-Old Sabahan Brought Glory To Malaysia, But You Probably Didn't Hear About It
She hails from Tambunan and has impaired vision.
Chances are you have probably never heard of her
At the mere age of 16, she has accomplished what many cannot even imagine. Hailing from the valley district of Tambunan in Sabah, her glorious accomplishments, however, have largely been ignored.
In fact, when we set out to write about her, there wasn't much news coverage on her accomplishments apart from a single line mention on the country's leading English daily, The Star.
On Facebook, a family friend of her had a post rueing the sad fact.
She is Felicia Binti Mikat, a sprinter with impaired vision, who won three Gold medals at the 8th ASEAN Para Games in Singapore
Image via Marianne Kiob/SAYS
After winning the 100m T13 on Friday, 4 December, and the 400m T13 on Saturday, 5 December, the 16-year-old sprinter collected her 3rd Gold at the Games when she won the 200m T13 in 30.63 on Sunday, 6 December.
When we came to know about Felicia's golden victory, we reached out to one of her family members on Facebook, Marianne and her friend Daphne, who helped make Felicia's story viral on the Internet
According to Marianne, young Felicia aspires to be a teacher.
She is presently in Form 3 at a boarding school named SMK Badin in Tuaran in the West Coast Division of Sabah. Her parents, who are farmers by profession, sent her to the boarding school since she was 7 years old.
There is no school for kids with special needs in Kampung Kipaku. Because her school is quite far away from where her parents live in Kampung Kipaku, Felicia stays at the boarding school for months before seeing her family again during school holidays.
Suffering from visual impairment since birth, Felicia has been training since early childhood. Watch the sprinter in action here:
Felicia arrived home in Sabah late night at around 1:30 am, 11 December. Seen here is Felicia with her mom and her younger brother who came to give her a warm welcome at the KKIA.
Image via Marianne Kiob/SAYS
Speaking to SAYS, Felicia Mikat said:
Her victory is still very much of a surprise to her and she didn't think she would have won. All that she aimed to do at the ASEAN Para Games was to do her best.
She feels blessed and thanks God for giving her the strength and enabling her to win not one but three Gold Medals. She is so happy that her family is so proud of her and hopes that Malaysia is proud of her too.
Felicia's extended family is seen welcoming her and her coach Mr. Tony Sawan.
Image via Marianne Kiob/SAYS
We at SAYS are surely proud of you, Felicia. You, like other Special Athletes at the Games, have added glory to your country's name.
Image via Giphy
Prior to Felicia's victory at the Para Games, Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi, a paralympic sprinter, created history by winning the 100m T36 Gold Medal at the IPC World Athletics Championships:
Meanwhile, this Malaysian girl, who is the youngest ever gold medalist in the Sea Games' 50-year history, just won 5 golds:
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