16-летняя пловчиха из Малайзии с трудностями в обучении завоевала золото и стала рекордсменкой Азиатских игр

Born with learning difficulties, Asyiil first took up swimming as a form of rehabilitation when her doctor said the sport would help support her development. What began as therapy, however, soon grew into a passion. Before long, the 16-year-old Kuala Lumpur swimmer was winning medals for Malaysia at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai and the 2025 Asean Para Games in Thailand. Her talent made waves at the 2024 Para Sukma in Sarawak, where Asyiil won gold in the women’s S14 100m freestyle with a time of 1:23.35, smashing the previous Games record of 1:26.29 set two years earlier. She was also named the Anugerah Puteri Para recipient at the Anugerah Sukan KPM-MSSM-Milo 2025. “What I love most about swimming is that there is always something to work towards,” Asyiil told FMT Lifestyle in an interview assisted by her parents. “Of course, winning medals is rewarding, but for me, the biggest motivation has always been competing against myself, trying to improve my personal best and become stronger.” The promising athlete currently competes as a para swimmer under the Intellectual Impairment (S14) classification, which falls under the Learning Difficulty/Intellectual Impairment category. Asyiil also attends a mainstream school under the Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi (PPKI), where she receives learning support according to her needs. Becoming a competitive swimmer means adopting a demanding routine. Asyiil trains in the pool almost every day, alongside strength and conditioning sessions to build stamina and overall fitness. Outside the pool, her parents help ensure she pays close attention to her nutrition, rest and sleep. “For me, being an athlete is not just about training hard in the pool. It is also about taking care of myself outside of training so that I stay healthy, strong and perform at my best,” she said. Swimming, she added, has taught her discipline, patience and self-confidence. Asyiil admitted she was once afraid, insecure and unsure of herself, but the sport taught her to believe in her abilities and gave her the courage to keep trying. One of her biggest challenges has been staying consistent and positive when things don’t go her way. “I am learning that not every day will be a good day, and that setbacks are part of the journey. What matters is being able to pick myself up, learn from my mistakes and keep trying,” she said. Through the highs and lows, Asyiil’s biggest inspirations have been her parents, who have always stood by her and made sacrifices so she could pursue her dreams. She also credits her coaches for constantly pushing her to improve, stay disciplined and persevere through difficult times. Fellow para-athletes are another source of inspiration, their achievements showing her that challenges and limitations need not stand in the way of success. Asyiil believes para sports in Malaysia have come a long way, and that para-athletes receive greater attention and recognition today. At the same time, she said there is still room for improvement. “Continued exposure, accessibility and support are very important because there are many talented young para-athletes who may not yet have the opportunities, resources or confidence to take that first step and show what they are capable of,” she said. She hoped to see more support for young athletes through initiatives such as Milo’s sports programmes, in which she has regularly participated. Asyiil hopes to continue developing as an athlete, improve her performances and clock better times in every event she competes in. The spirited teen is determined to give her best at every competition and hopes for more opportunities to represent Malaysia internationally. Her advice to other aspiring young athletes is simple: don’t be afraid to start, stay disciplined and don’t give up too easily. “You may not be the best when you first begin, and there will be days when you feel tired, disappointed or don’t achieve the results you hoped for,” Asyiil said. “But every challenge, setback and small achievement is part of the journey. They are the experiences that help you learn, improve and become stronger, both as an athlete and as a person.”