SEA Games Vietnam 2003, sprint double champion Nazmizan Mohamed, who was recently crowned Malaysia’s Sportsman of the Year 2003 talks to us

Height: 1.81m

Weight: 73kg

Born: 4 Apr 1981

Events: 100m, 200m

1. It’s been awhile since we last heard of you. You did a delighted double Gold win at the SEA Games Vietnam. What has happened since then. what are you doing currently and what are your future plans?

   Nazmizan: After coming back from SEA Games, i received alot of support and incentives from MSN (Majlis Sukan Negara), Terengganu government (KETENGAH), Olimpian of The Year, Landhorst and other associations. Now Mizan would like to focus on qualifying for the Olympics to run the qualifying of 10.20sec for 100m and 20.75sec for 200m for Category B

2. Going back to the SEA Games Vietnam, you clocked 2nd fastest timing of the year behind Sittichai and deemed the underdog before going into the SEA Games. Was winning the 100m & 200m part of your plan? How confident were you?

   Nazmizan: I knew that Thailand possess sprinting athletes of quality, but i try not to focus on it and told myself not to be afraid to lose. Before SEA Games, I did a timing of 10.38sec in 100m and 21.27sec in 200m going into the games … the timing wasn’t that far off from the timing achieved by the Thai sprinters. I trained hard going into the SEA Games. I made a point to realise my initial goal earlier in the year to win 2 goal medals for Malaysia going into the games

3. How were you first discovered that you have a God-given talent in running?

   Nazmizan: When I was 9 years old, Mizan beat and outraced the senior athletes during Sports Day. From there I was spotted and continued my passionate pursuit in athletics

4. Tell us your motivation, approach and philosophy in training and racing?

   Nazmizan: I hope Malaysia is able to nurture many more athletes in the sprinting events and I dream of becoming of one the top elite sprinters in the world. As for my philosophy in running, before each meet I tell myself to be confident and believe in the All-Mighty

5. Can you tell us a little on your family and friends. Tell us of the support and love they have given you all this time back then. Has any one of them inspired you?

   Nazmizan: I have 2 loving and supporting parents whom both are teacher. My dad Roslan Ahmad and mum Sharifah Khalid

6. What are your thoughts on Singapore athletes and their performance at the last SEA Games Vietnam?

   Nazmizan: As for my view on Singapore athletes, all of them are athletes of calibre. I’ve lost and won races with some of them. I hope Singapore athletics will rise to the occasion in SEA Games 2005

Nazmizan is now at the US for an intensive training stint at a centre managed by former world 400m champion Michael Johnson and we at Track United wish him all the best. Photos courtesy of Nazmizan