KUALA LUMPUR: Following a tough season, national diver Pandelela Rinong is now taking a well-deserved break back home in Kuching, Sarawak.
The 24-year-old, who spent most of the year training in Bukit Jalil or abroad for competitions, said she cherishes every opportunity to be with her family — father Pamg Joheng and mother Hartini Lamim along with siblings, Pardika Indoma, Pici Parnia and Parcelia Renyelia.
"I look forward to spending quality time with my family as I am most of the time in KL for training,” said Pandelela in Kuching on Sunday.
"I feel grateful for every moment that I get to go back home. Christmas this year is another wonderful time to bond with my parents and siblings, and to meet my friends.
"I also look forward to enjoying my mum's cooking here."
Pandelela, who is studying sports science at Universiti Malaya, is the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympic medal by achieving a bronze in the women's 10m platform individual event at the 2012 London edition.
She went on to clinch a silver in the 10m platform synchro event with Cheong Jun Hoong at the Rio Olympics last year as well as a bronze in the same discipline at the World Championships in Budapest this year.
Next year will be another busy season for Pandelela as she will be competing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Indonesia Asian Games.