Trailblazer Lost: Malaysia’s First Female Olympic Athlete Passes Away

Annie Choong, Malaysia’s first female athlete to compete in the Olympics, died at 90 yesterday.

Bernama reported Annie, who competed in the 100-meter event, created history as the only female athlete in the inaugural Malaysian contingent, which was then known as Malaya.

The Athletics Union of Malaysia (KOM) describes Annie as a pioneer in the Malaysian athletics arena.

“Annie made history by competing in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, paving the way for future generations of Malaysian female athletes. She is known for her speed and fighting spirit in athletics.

“May her family be given strength to face this difficult time, and may her contribution continue to be remembered in the world of national sports,” KOM said in a statement.

At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the then 22-year-old Annie finished in fourth place with a time of 12.73 seconds. Annie’s legacy inspired many top Malaysian female athletes, including B Rajamani and Marina Chin.

Annie also competed in the second and third editions of the Asian Games in 1954 in Manila, Philippines, and Tokyo, Japan, in 1958.

In 2017, the Malaysian Olympic Council (MOM) inducted her into their Hall of Fame.