Caption: Maziah Mahusin (C) in a picture with fellow Olympians Jaspar Yu (L) and Fakhri Ismail. Picture: Courtesy of Brunei Strength and Conditioning
Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
MAZIAH Mahusin is wasting no time and looking to whip herself back into shape.
Brunei’s first female Olympian underwent successful surgery on her right heel on July 5 to remove the Calcaneal spurs which she has been suffering from since 2010.
It only took a fortnight before the 24-year-old returned back to the gym despite being on crutches and having a cast on.
Under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach at the Sports Medicine and Research Centre (SMRC) John Selby-Sly, Maziah began core training on July 27 before starting her rehabilitation and cycling programme on August 30.
Picture: Courtesy of Maziah Mahusin
“I can’t wait to go back into training. I’m really pushing myself. It has been my life for the past 10 years. I don’t want all that I’ve built to be gone just like that,” said Maziah in a recent interview with BruSports News.
“I was used to tolerating the pain (when running) but for now I just have to take it easy eventhough I’m eager to get back already.
“I’ve been told that I should only be able to run again after a year.
“I want to be stronger than before. At least this time I know there won’t be the pain and suffering when I’m running,” she added.
“It is all abut the mentality and I just have to think positive. I believe that I’ll be fine.
“I’m focused on my recovery and will work on my weaknesses when I return,” continued Maziah, who is also eyeing a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Maziah during a training session earlier his year at the Balapan Track & Field in Berakas. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
The biggest letdown is that she has been advised by her doctor that there is a chance that she can no longer do sprint events: 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
Maziah competed in the 400m event at the 2012 London Olympics and switched to the 200m event not long after.
Her target was always breaking the 200m national record, which is held by Alinawati Ali Akbar with a time of 25.22s set at the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, and her personal best is just 0.22s off.
However, she remains positive that she will be able to pull if out with the correct mindset.
“I believe that I can work to it within the next two years. I just have to have the right mindset and recover properly,” said Maziah, whose last competition was in August last year when she advanced to the final of the 200m event at the ASEAN University Games in Thailand.
“For now the target is still the 200m record. If it doesn’t work then I will have to try for longer runs such as the 400m and 800m events.
“But I still got hope to one day break the 200m record,” she added.
Maziah spent two weeks in hospital after surgery to her right heel. Picture: Courtesy of Maziah Mahusin
When asked about her diet, Maziah replied: “I’m just taking on proteins and carbohydrates as well as less oily food of course.”
She also went on to thank the people who showed her concern during a difficult time.
“It was good to have a lot of people show me concern regarding my surgery,” said Maziah, who holds the 400m record with a time of 59.20s.
“It was a tough time as I was in the hospital for two weeks. I was in a lot of pain and couldn’t sleep,” she concluded.
