Overcoming hurdles and penalties – a lesson from Boumkwo

FEAR and courage, they say, are brothers. And sista Jolien Boumkwo certainly lived up to the saying.

Boumkwo is a shot putter. But she stole the show at last week’s European Team Championships in Krakow, Poland, when she donned the spikes as well to compete in the 100m hurdles - all because she wanted to win points for her country so they would not be disqualified.

The Belgian is plus-sized, she is built like a shot putter, certainly not like an agile hurdler. But that didn’t stop her, as she crossed over every bar with precision, taking her time.

As she finished the race, the crowd erupted in cheers as they watched the show of grit and courage unfold in front of them.

Two other hurdlers from her team had been injured and no one wanted to step up, but Boumkwo was willing to give it a try and volunteered as her country needed points to stay afloat in division one and every participation counted.

Of course, she must have been afraid. There was the risk of falling over a hurdle, getting hurt or even being ridiculed for failing, but what a spectacle of true sporting spirit she produced.

She finished last, but earned two points with a time of 32.81seconds. Belgium did not get the fairytale end they wanted and were demoted after falling short behind Greece, but Boumkwo was celebrated for her courage all over the world.

The 29-year-old showed the world that anything is possible if one is brave enough.

There’s a lesson there for football players in Malaysia who left Terengganu coach Tomislav Steinbruckner pulling his hair out in despair.

Several of his players would not step up to take penalty kicks when the team needed them the most after they had drawn 0-0 in regulation time against Kuala Lumpur in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The Turtles lost 2-4 in the penalty shootout.

Steinbruckner was not asking his players to run the 110m hurdles, make a slam dunk in basketball or switch to badminton racquets. He had only asked them to do what they were being paid for.

Did these footballers fear they would miss the penalties? Were they not in good condition? What were they afraid of?

Our athletes must not fear failure - trying your best is what matters most.

They do not have to worry about the fans or even the social media keyboard warriors. The fans are not the ones taking the kicks or dealing with emotions or anxieties in those tense moments before a penalty shootout.

But a player is beaten if he lets fear consume him. We are losers if we don’t even try. We will never then be able to face bigger issues in life.

What we need to do is look at the bigger picture - just like Boumkwo did.

We have Malaysians like her too. Azizulhasni Awang overcame one of the biggest hurdles in his life - a heart surgery - and returned to win not one but two gold medals at the Asian cycling championships recently.

There are others, too, who should keep trying.

Gymnasts Rachel Yeoh, Ng Joe Ee and the table tennis team led by coach Bee Lee Wei, keep chasing after the dream although you were not selected for this year’s Asian Games despite doing so well in other multisport Games!

Equestrian showjumper N. Shoorendran, keep knocking at the door, some kind soul will step in to fund your Asiad dream.

Shuttler Lee Zii Jia, continue to work hard and stay humble, the results will pour in.

As the brave Boumkwo beautifully said after her run - “take it hurdle by hurdle.”