Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
MAZIAH Mahusin never backed down to her injury and is approaching full fitness once again.
Having suffered from Calcaneal spurs on her right heel from 2010, Brunei’s first female Olympian finally underwent successful surgery to have them removed in July 2017.
She is now back to fully competing and is looking to hit 100 per cent this year.
Maziah highlighted that a positive attitude was what got her through the tough times.
“Undergoing and recovering from any surgery requires a lot of mental and physical strength,” said Maziah in an interview with BruSports News recently.
“What I feel most influential in my recovery was that I remained positive.
"I saw my situation as a blessing rather than a curse… a means to slow me down and enjoy what life had to offer besides training,” she added.
[Related: Maziah working her way back after successful surgery]Swimming to stay active
During her recovery period, Maziah turned to the swimming pool to help keep up with her fitness routine.
“For three months, I literally jumped head first into a pool three times a week,” revealed the 25-year-old.
“I followed a routine that included calf raises, leg abduction and adduction, squats, jumps, lunges, hops, raises, lifts, and water treading of different sorts.
“I took lessons to learn how to swim properly, to add another avenue of fitness into my routine," she added.
“I still do training on the track but never run 100 per cent. I have to control my speed as I have to build up everything from the beginning… my strength, endurance, speed and power.
“I have to start slow, I will be able to get back to where I was, but I need to be really patient," continued the 2012 London Olympian.
She also felt that following the instructions given by her sports rehabilitation therapist Sylvester Koh from Smoov Lab boosted her recovery.
“I tried a lot of different treatments during my rehab, luckily there was this private sports rehab therapist from Smoov Lab who approached me and helped me even until now.
“These were some of the most painful experiences, but I did not care because I knew it was making me better," said Maziah.
Back to competitions and continued winning
Maziah was finally cleared to compete at the Brunei Track & Field Open in May 2018 where she participated in the women’s 400m and 4x100m events.
Despite a hiatus off the tracks, she remains the athlete to beat.
“I remember crying out of happiness at regaining the ability to move and run and to compete last year,” she said.
“In that competition, I was able to run both the 400m and relay 4x100 events. I was really satisfied with my time in the 400m event crossing the line on 1min 7s,” added Maziah.
She then went on to contest in the 200m, 400m and 4x100m events during the Brunei National Games (SKBD) in September.
The national runner managed to finish at the top of the podium for the 200m event with a time of 27.5s as well as the 400m event clocking 1min 03s.
“I know that it is far from my personal best but I’m still improving slowly,” said Maziah, who competed in the 400m hurdles event at the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore back in 2010.
“I still feel the pain around the surgery area, but the doctor and my physio said that it is normal because it is healing.
“I remember my physio told me I wouldn’t be able to run the 100m sprint because it requires power, since I lost 40 per cent of my tendon and that my right leg is different compared to before,” she added.
“But during the SEA Games trial recently, I ran the 100m and managed to improve my time to 13.22s.
“The last time I ran the 100m was during BIMPNT-EAGA Games time trial last year where I crossed the line on 13.46s.
“I believe I will get back to my personal best time of 12.1s and InsyaAllah, will break the national record.
Not going over the limit
“As I said I will always remain positive and I need to listen to my body as well. A little discomfort is okay but a lot is not,” said the 25-year-old.
“If the pain is very bad, or if it lasts for an hour or more after I've completed my training, I take that as a sign that I’ve gone too far.
“I may have to rest for one to three days before I try again. My coach and I will keep training except that it will be less intensive so that I feel good during and after my workout," she added.
Eyeing a berth at the 30th SEA Games
“For this year’s goals, I need to get back to my personal best time. I need to run the 100m under 13s, 200m under 26s and 400m under one minute,” said the 400m record holder with a time of 59.28s.
“I train everyday now except Sunday and I can feel that I am recovering 100 per cent.
“I need to be able to compete in a lot of international competition in order for me to get my PB,” she added.
“I’m also hoping that I will get chosen for the SEA Games this year and maybe even win a medal. If I get selected, I will maybe run in 100m and 200m events,” concluded Maziah.
