Yi Wei excels in studies and rhythmic gymnastics

05/08/1997

GOH Yi Wei is 13 and going places.
The Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) student received the Junior
Olympian Award at the Bandar Baru Seri Petaling Primary School recently.
Yi Wei is the 26th recipient of the award, sponsored by Milo, Olympic
Council of Malaysia and the Malaysian Schools Sports Council, which also
comes with RM2,000 prize money and a certificate of excellence.
Active in rhythmic gymnastics since she was nine-years-old, Yi Wei was
selected by the National Sports Council (NSC) to be nurtured into a medal
prospect for the next year's Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
And the budget to prepare the Games squad since 1993 is a whopping RM16
million.
Yi Wei, who did her Primary Six at Seri Petaling, attributes her success
to her parents: "They encouraged me to take part in gymnastics and played
a big role in my success."
Last year, she won a silver medal at the Oceania Championships in New
Zealand.
She also won one gold, three silver and one bronze at the National
Championships and at the National Schools meet she took home four golds
and two silvers.
And at the Inter-City championships at Stadium Negara, Yi Wei won two
silver medals.
"At the BJSS, we normally study for about three hours and the rest of
the day our coach Marina Axenenko from Russia takes us through the
routines.
"It is tough training but I don't mind, my aim is to make the '98 Games
squad and the 2000 Olympics."
Yi Wei, who went on a 10-nation tour stint in Europe in April where she
took part in seven championships, is also an outstanding student. She
scored 4As in the UPSR examinations last year.
"My dream is to become a doctor, so I devote just as much time for
studies," said the youngster.
Seri Petaling headmaster Kassim Saubth Khan had only praises for Yi Wei:
"She was a model student, although she only did her primary six with us,
she managed to charm the teachers with her commitment towards studies and
sport.
"I always tell my students that one must be active in sport if they want
to excel in studies because if you are physically fit, training the mind
will be easier, it works both ways," said Kassim. FACTFILE
Name: Goh Yi Wei
Date of birth: April 22, 1984
Height: 141cm
Weight: 35kg
Ambition: To be a doctor.
Favourite gymnast: World rhythmic champion Ekaterina Serebryanskays.
Achievements - Silver medallist at the Oceania Championships in New
Zealand; Mac Donald award for all rounder; One gold, three silvers and one
bronze at the National Champiosnhips; Four golds and two silvers at the
National Schools championships.
(END)