Olympians aren’t the only world champs who need support

ZMARUL Al Adam (pic, below) became Malaysia’s latest world champion, winning gold in the World Bodybuilding Championships in Maldives last month.

His win made him the heir to six-time world champion Datuk Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah – or Mike Mahen – who retired earlier this year.

Syarul left the scene after finally nailing the Best Sportsman of the Year award for 2023.

But that is probably the best he can hope for. After all, he is a world champion in a non-Olympic sport.

Malaysia has no shortage of world champion athletes when it comes to non-Olympic sports. There have been numerous from wushu and pencak silat in the last decade but there is no bigger name than Datuk Nicol David.

She was world No. 1 for years and won eight world titles but, unluckily for her, squash will only be an Olympic sport at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

The thing is: there is a big gap in the kind of support world champions receive, depending on whether or not their sport falls under the Olympic banner.

The country has a pension scheme for Olympic medallists but such appreciation and support is not given to athletes who achieve world champion status outside the Olympic framework.

The lack of a specific pension scheme for athletes raises a question. Why are world class athletes in non-Olympic sports, who equally contribute to the nation’s sporting legacy, not given the recognition they deserve?

It is not a good message to send to the younger generation – that success in sports outside of the Olympic family is not of much worth.

Perhaps we can learn from other countries like Canada, Australia and the United States who have long recognised the need for a strong retirement system to ensure financial stability for their athletes.

In Canada, the Athlete Assistance Programme (AAP) provides regular income to athletes during and after their careers regardless of whether the sport is under the Olympic banner or not, along with support for career transitions.

In Australia, meanwhile, the government works with corporations to fund pensions and career training programmes for retired athletes.

Malaysia could also consider adopting a national pension scheme which receives support from the public and private sector, tailored to the needs of athletes who become world champions in recognised sports.

The authorities can also consider implementing a comprehensive career transition programme for retired athletes who often have difficulty transitioning to a new career.

The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) can look at establishing collaborations with educational institutions and businesses to offer scholarships, career counselling, and training programmes.

It’s over to you, Hannah Yeoh. Your Youth and Sports Ministry might want to look into this matter in 2025.