PETALING JAYA: Four Malaysians have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a public marathon at the Paris Olympics on Aug 10.
Yap Siew Shan, Tan Sook Yong, Chan Chzee Siong and Kee Wei Ping are the four chosen ones who will be running the same route as the Olympics marathon, starting one hour after the men’s marathon flag-off.
A total of 20,024 runners were selected, with the number of male and female participants evenly divided.
The four Malaysians were selected after they accumulated 100,000 points by running over the past three years, earning 10 points per kilometer.
Rare opportunity: Yap Siew Shan, Tan Sook Yong, Chan Chzee Siong and Kee Wei Ping will be running on the same route as the Olympics marathon.
Forty-four-year-old Sook Yong, who is also known as Angel, felt it was like a dream come true for her to go to the Olympics.
“The moment I found out I had a chance to run the Paris Olympic route, I was totally stunned; it’s just unbelievable. It’s like a dream,” said Angel.
“I love running and have been running for the past seven years. I never thought that my running hobby would bring this opportunity! The three years of effort I put into accumulating points paid off. It’s an Olympic dream come true for a layman.”
Siew Shan, 39, also could not hide her delight at being chosen for the marathon.
“Super stoked to be one of the 20,024 runners across the world to be given the opportunity to share the Olympic dream and experience for the first time in Olympic history,” said Siew Shan.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I see myself qualifying and participating in the Olympics, the holy grail of all.
“This is so surreal and it would be the closest ever for me to live this dream of many including elite and professional runners, and with that, I am truly blessed and thanking God for this unbelievable opportunity.”
