KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first Winter Olympian, figure skater Julian Yee has one key to success — that is to be a little crazy.
Juggling a hectic 6am to midnight daily schedule filled with coaching, training, studying and competitions is enough to push one over the edge but that’s not what the 21-year old had in mind when he attributed “crazy” as the factor to his success.
“I think you have got to be crazy, in a good way, because you need to have an open mind to see all the different outcomes, learn from them at this crucial stage and not give up.
“Keep trying and a lot of things will come unexpectedly and just have to grasp it at the right time because if not, you will lose that opportunity.
“I think I just want to see myself somewhere and for me education is important. I have to finish (studies) but training is just as important because if I want to compete, I have to do well and I think for me coaching and studying at the academy is for the future,” said Julian who has three more years before graduating in business management at the York University in Toronto, Canada.
This mantra has led to Julian winning the senior national championship five times, reached the finals at seven International Skating Union (ISU) competitions which includes two World Championships, earning the first Sea Games gold medal in ice sports and also performing at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Julian was also appointed as the tourism ambassador of Gangwon Province in South Korea, yesterday, following his 2009 stint in the Korean Dream Programme.
“I’m very surprised when they first approached me because I never expected that but now I’m just very honoured to have this chance to share the experiences,” he said.
Julian who arrived from the United States on Tuesday, is fresh out of his first Grand Prix at the ISU GP Skate America 2018 where he finished third in his short programme and placed seventh overall.