Q&A WITH LIM CHEE YONG, THE FIRST LANGKAWIAN AND THE YOUNGEST MALAYSIAN EVER TO QUALIFY FOR IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN KONA, HAWAII

Q&A WITH LIM CHEE YONG, THE FIRST LANGKAWIAN AND THE YOUNGEST MALAYSIAN EVER TO QUALIFY FOR IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN KONA, HAWAII

Lim Chee Yong was born in Langkawi, Kedah on 29th September 1997. He is the eldest of three. Chee Yong picked up running in 2016 after he finished high school. What started off as short-distance running (3KM, 5KM and, 10KM), Chee Yong slowly developed an interest for long-distance run. He completed his first long-distance run, a total of 30KM, a month after he started running. 

Chee Yong has his uncle to thank for introducing him to participate in IRONMAN Malaysia. After seeing his capabilities, his uncle who is also a triathlete himself suggested that Chee Yong should try triathlon and registered him for 2016 IRONMAN Malaysia. 

The main highlight of Chee Yong’s achievement is when he became the first Langkawian and youngest Malaysian ever to qualify for IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Chee Yong was only 20 years old when he participated in 2017 IRONMAN Malaysia and won the 3rd Place in his age group (18-24 years old), with timing 11:45:25.

Besides that, he has also participated in 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 BINTAN and won 2nd Place in his age group (18-24 years old)  ͞

"You have to be passionate, consistent and disciplined in order to achieve your goals. Most importantly is to enjoy your race, your surroundings and also, the pain!͟", said Chee Yong when asked about his advice to people who would like to try triathlon.

FUN FACTS ABOUT LIM CHEE YONG

• He learned swimming through Youtube, 3 months before participating in 2016 IRONMAN Malaysia 
• His trip to Kona, Hawaii will be his first ever trip to oversea 
• Despite the small figure, Chee Yong is someone with big appetite! 
• He admitted that he is still a mommy’s boy

The Basics On Lim Chee Yong

Full name:

Lim Chee Yong

Place of Birth: 

Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman

Date of Birth: 29 September 1997 

Occupation: Part Time Swim Coach 

1.What is your greatest strength? 

LCY: My love & passion for this sport. 

2.How do you handle stress and pressure? 

LCY: By asking for friends’ advice and opinions and try to visualize a solution for a win-win outcome. Stay calm and focus on the BIG picture

3.What was your greatest accomplishment as an athlete? 

LCY: The moment when I crossed the finish line and found out that I finished top three in my age group (18-24 years old) category for 2017 IRONMAN Malaysia and qualified for IRONMAN Kona World Championship 2018! 

4.What excites you the most about a career as an athlete? 

LCY:To beat my personal best for triathlon races and try my best to inspire people to follow their dreams! 

5.You are a part-time swimming coach. How do you find time for training? 

LCY: I’m a part time swim coach under the Gogetter Triathlon Squad. Normally our coaching class starts from late evening until night, so I will train two sessions per day (morning and afternoon before I start my coaching session) 

6.Can you list down 5 Fun Facts about yourself?

i.Learnt how to swim via YouTube 3 months before 2016 IRONMAN Malaysia (my first ever triathlon race).

ii.Never been overseas before. My upcoming race in Kona is my first overseas trip! 

iii.Never travelled alone before 

iv.I have big appetite! 

 v.Mommy's Boy 

7.What is your favourite discipline and why? 

LCY: My favourite discipline is running, because I can always enjoy the beautiful and different while I am running. 

8.List down your achievements as an athlete: (You may add on more) 

I.Qualified for IRONMAN World Championship 2018 within 2 years of my triathlon journey. 

II.2016 IRONMAN MALAYSIA BEST LANGKAWIAN 

III.2017 IRONMAN MALAYSIA 3rd Place in my age group (18-24 years old) and BEST LANGKAWIAN 

IV.2nd Place in my age group (18-24 years old) for 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 BINTAN 

9.Can you share with us your nutrition plan when doing triathlon? 

LCY: For IRONMAN distance, I will eat breakfast (2 pieces of bread and hot drinks) 2-2:30 hours before race. For Bike Leg, I will have 1 Hammer Gel every 45 minutes,1 Hammer Bar and 2 bottles of ultra-endurance drinks (Hammer Perpetuem mix with Hammer Endurolytes Extreme powder). For Run Leg, I will take 1 Hammer gel every 30 minutes. For post-race, I will make sure to have my usual recovery drinks which is the Hammer Whey protein.

10.What is your advice to people who wants to try triathlon? 

LCY: Set a goal and be passionate, consistent and disciplined in achieving your goal(s). Most importantly is don’t forget to enjoy your race, your surroundings and also, the pain! 

11.You are the first Langkawian to qualify for IRONMAN Kona in Hawaii. How do you feel about that? 

LCY: I feel very grateful and lucky to have strong support from LADA's (Langkawi Development & Authority) and LANGKAWIAN friends in my journey to IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii this 13th October 2018. I'm proud to represent Langkawi and Malaysia in my BIGGEST DREAM race ever. I will try my very best to finish strong in one of the toughest race in the world and make Langkawi and Malaysia proud.