Aruwin set to be first Malaysian woman to compete in two straight Winter Olympics

Alpine ace: Aruwin Salehhuddin strutting her stuff in the slalom event. Inset: Aruwin up close.

PETALING JAYA: Her father Salehhuddin Ayob is the only Malaysian canoeist to have taken part at the Olympics, achieving the feat in finishing 43rd in the men’s kayak singles in 1996 in Atlanta, the United States.

Now, his daughter Aruwin Salehhuddin is set to rewrite Malaysian sporting history as the first woman to compete in two consecutive Winter Olympics.

Aruwin, who turns 22 next month, has qualified on merit for the women’s slalom and giant slalom events in next month’s Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy by virtue of being ranked in the top 30 in the World Cup rankings.

Both slalom and giant slalom are part of the Alpine skiing discipline.

Aruwin, who was born in Bellingham near Washington, thus ensured that Malaysia continues to have representation in the Winter Olympics.

Malaysia had two representatives in Aruwin and Jeffrey Webb (men’s slalom) at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

For Aruwin, she will be chasing progress in her second appearance.

Aruwin failed to finish the slalom race in Beijing but she ranked 38th in the giant slalom event.

“I was 17 years old when I had my start at the Winter Olympics.

“I think being that young, being there, everything was just so surreal.

“You don’t really feel like, “wow, I am really the first female Malaysian Winter Olympian,” until you kind of look back on it,” said Aruwin in a recent interview on the Olympics.com website.

Her extra motivation to be competitive on the world stage also comes from her experience competing at the last Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, last year.

Aruwin came within a whisker of rewriting history when she finished fourth in the women’s slalom, competing against athletes from traditional winter sports powerhouses.

She is definitely better prepared this time, having taken part in more than 50 events across Argentina, Europe and Asia over the last two years to gain exposure to different snow and terrain conditions.

And also not forgetting, drawing inspiration from her Olympian dad.

“When I was little, I always told my mum, I want to be like my dad. I want to go to the Olympics for Malaysia.

“All these years, he’s done an amazing job supporting me. He’s travelled the world for me, to help me, to guide me.”