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      <p><span>National sports icon Farah Ann Abdul Hadi reflects on her Olympic journey, life beyond the Games, the champion mentality that defines her, and the bittersweet decision to bid farewell to her athletic career.</span></p>
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      <p><span>Crafting an Olympian is no small feat; it demands resilience, unwavering resolve, and a deep-seated commitment to effecting positive change. For gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, her journey to the Olympics was marked by heartbreak, relentless determination, and an unyielding belief in her ability to make a difference &mdash; a belief she proved to be well-founded. Saying goodbye to a career that spanned an impressive 25 years was undeniably one of her toughest decisions. Yet, as one chapter closed, another began, propelling Farah Ann into new avenues of opportunity. Today, she shines brightly across various platforms, emerging as a beacon of women&rsquo;s empowerment and a genuine icon in her own right.</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>If you were to illustrate your journey in the sports industry using emojis, which ones would you choose?</strong></em><br /></span><span>🤸♀❤🥇😓✨🗼🥰<br /><br /></span><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Reflecting on your journey, you began training as a gymnast at the age of three and joined the national team at just eight years old. Considering this early start, what do you believe fuelled your determination to pursue a career in this sport?<br /></span></strong></em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">I believe passion for a sport is crucial. I fell in love with gymnastics at a very young age &mdash; by the time I was six, I knew I wanted to be a gymnast. This passion drove me to </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">give my all to the sport. I was captivated by everything about gymnastics, from tumbling to mastering incredible skills. My journey in gymnastics, from representing my state to representing my country, fuelled my determination. I constantly sought to improve myself, pushing my limits and striving for greater achievements. This relentless drive to excel and progress defined my love for the sport.<br /><br /><em style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><strong>You&rsquo;reundeniablyaniconinthesportsworld.Howdoesitfeeltohave garnered such recognition from the outset of your journey in sports and continuing to this day?<br /></strong></em></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">When I first began gymnastics, it was an incredible experience to push myself to my limits and prove my abilities in the sport. Representing Malaysia continuously has been a source of immense pride for me, as I strived to elevate Malaysian gymnastics to new heights. I am deeply thankful and humbled by the recognition I&rsquo;ve received. My journey has been anything but easy, filled with numerous ups and downs. I am profoundly grateful for the unwavering support from everyone around me, always having my back. I hope to inspire the next generation of young gymnasts to believe in themselves and realize that anything is possible if they truly desire it. I want them to understand that by pushing their limits and striving to be the best versions of themselves, they can achieve greatness.</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>Did you have any rituals or routines that you followed the day before a big gymnastics competition?<br /></strong></em></span><span>The day before a big competition, we always have our last training session on the competition apparatus. For me, I have a little ritual the night before. I have a book where I write down what I need to think about for the next day: mistakes to fix, thoughts to focus on while competing, and my goals for the competition. I also include a prayer, asking for strength to do my best. I write a pep talk to myself and jot down all the things I want to achieve. On another page, I write down all my negative thoughts, then rip it up and throw it away. This helps me clear my mind. I also prep everything for the competition, making sure my bag is packed and my gear is ready. This way, I&rsquo;m not rushing or stressed and can focus on performing my best.<br /><br /></span><strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">When you made the decision to announce your retirement, what thoughts were going through your mind? And how long did it take you to arrive at this significant decision?</span></em></strong><span>Deciding to retire was one of the hardest things I&rsquo;ve ever had to do. It took me about a year to work through the process, thinking about when and how to retire. I even spent a few months back in the gym, training to make sure it was the right decision. It was a tough time, filled with back-and-forth thoughts. I pushed myself until I was completely burnt out, which helped me realize it was time to step away.</span></p>
      <p><span>I will always love gymnastics, but I knew that my time as a gymnast was coming to an end. I wanted to retire at the peak of my career, giving it everything I had. I was lucky to achieve all my goals and retire on my own terms, something not all athletes get to do. The decision was a huge struggle for me, and it still is. Gymnastics was my life since I was three and a big part of my identity. Stepping away was a major shift. During the process, I talked a lot with my family, close friends, and coaches to voice my thoughts and reflect on my career and feelings. In the end, I knew it was the right decision, but getting there involved many conversations and a lot of self-reflection.</span></p>
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      <p style="text-align: center;"><span>"Representing the country means always being on your best behaviour, which can be fulfilling but also limiting. I want people to understand that those they see online or in the media are human beings with their feelings and personalities."</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>Are there any questions you wish to be asked? And what would be your answer to those questions?<br /></strong></em></span><span>&ldquo;Who is Farah Ann?&rdquo; People know me as the gymnast, the athlete, but I&rsquo;m more than that. Some are surprised to learn I have multiple sides. I can be shy when meeting new people and have a small social circle because I value deep friendships. With my close friends, I&rsquo;m very energetic and loud, quite different from my public persona. Representing the country means always being on your best behaviour, which can be fulfilling but also limiting. I want people to understand that those they see online or in the media are whole human beings with their own feelings and personalities.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Another question I wish people asked more is, &ldquo;How are you doing now?&rdquo; Retiring as an athlete is not like switching jobs; it&rsquo;s a complete identity shift. For me, gymnastics was my life and identity. When you retire, you lose that part of yourself and have to find a new passion and identity. It can be very disorienting. People often don&rsquo;t understand this depth and assume it&rsquo;s just moving on to the next thing. Being a national athlete means putting your whole life into it &mdash; blood, sweat, and tears. When you retire, you have to find something new that can fill that significant part of you.</span></p>
      <p><span><em><strong>As we near the Paris Games next month, what message would you like to convey to our national team? Also, any advice for young athletes aiming for success in sports?<br /></strong></em></span><span>As the Paris Olympic Games approach next month, I want to send my best wishes to all the athletes who have qualified and are preparing to compete. Enjoy every moment, and soak in the experiences, from the athletes&rsquo; village to the competition itself. Give it your all &mdash; I know how hard you&rsquo;ve worked to get here, and I&rsquo;m fully behind each and every one of you. To the younger generation of athletes, my advice is to give everything you have for yourself and your sport. Be your own champion and push yourself to your limits. Know your goals and do everything you can to achieve them. Always believe in yourself because you&rsquo;re stronger than you think.</span></p>
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Icons Unveiled: Reinventing Farah Ann

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