TOKYO: When our own athletes miss the mark, Malaysians look towards other nations to “tumpang glamour” – even if there is a remote connection to our country.
So will be the case of Joseph Choong, the British heptathlete who won gold for his country in the men’s modern pentathlon.
Choong’s father Michael is a Seremban-born doctor who moved to London in the 1990s where he married Choong’s mother Beverly, also a doctor.
Having studied at the renowned St Paul’s Institution, Michael encouraged an active lifestyle for his sons Joseph, 26 and younger brother Henry, 23, who is also a modern pentathlete and participated at the Youth Championships.
Michael is a swimmer while Beverly plays netball, according to reports.
Joseph, the current world number one, took part in seven events in 24 hours, among the most gruelling event at Tokyo 2020.
He came first in fencing, swimming, show jumping and the 3000m laser run combined with four visits to the shooting range – making him Britain’s first gold medallist in the modern pentathlon as well as having led from the beginning in all events.
Choong was born in Orpington in Kent where his family still resides and has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Bath.
“I've always said I wanted to be the best in the world. This is literally a dream come true,” he told the BBC after his win. – The Vibes, August 8, 2021
