KUALA LUMPUR: Wong Kar Gee only found out about the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games (Para KL2017) in March – and six months later, he won the long jump gold with a 6.98m leap.
The 26-year-old 1.85m tall athlete from Kota Kinabalu has been visually-impaired since he was 8 years old, and this is his first Para Games. But he still made his mark.
Wong has been regularly competing in the triple-jump with able-bodied athletes, and has won medals in the MSSM as well as the Malaysia Games.
"I used to be a triple jump athlete and competed in the MSSM as well as Malaysia Games, but this is my first time competing as a para athlete.
"I found out about the KL Games in March, and walked in for selection. I was welcomed with open arms, and so, I am glad that I delivered gold in my first attempt," said Wong.
He was slated to run in the 100m on Tuesday, but a slight pull in his calf shelved the plan.
"I felt a bit tight in the calf and did not want to take the risk by running in the 100m. But today (yesterday) it felt better and I had a go in the long jump.
"Tomorrow (Friday), I will be competing in the 200m and hopefully, win another medal."
In terms of earning his bread and butter, Wong helps his parents, who are property developers in Kota Kinabalu.
Athletics contributed six more gold medals to Malaysia yesterday, bringing the four-day haul to 29.
And with one more day to go, the tally has already surpassed the 27 golds athletics contributed in the 2015 Singapore Asean Para Games.