kimberly bong and ong ker ying
KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning SEA Games springboard champion Kimberly Bong has left the national diving team.
The 21-year-old is the second female diver to quit the national diving team this month after Olympian springboard finalist Wendy Ng Yan Yee.
Kimberly, who is from Sarawak, had a memorable season last year when she claimed her first individual SEA Games gold medal after winning the women's 3m springboard competition in Cambodia.
She combined with Ong Ker Ying to end Malaysia's 13-year wait for a diving medal at the World University Games when they clinched the women's 3m springboard synchro silver medal in Chengdu, China in August.
Kimberly showed promise when she placed fourth in the Olympic Youth Games in Argentina in 2018 but her career progression has also been blighted by career-threatening shoulder and hip injuries.
Kimberly did not reveal the reason for her surprise move but preferred to cherish the wonderful moments she had with the national team.
"15 years of diving. All those laughs, sweat and tears will never be forgotten.
"Thank you to those who have supported me throughout my entire career. Officially, this chapter will be closed and it's time for me to move on to another chapter," she posted on her Instagram yesterday.
