PETALING JAYA: From the snowy slopes of North America to the world’s biggest winter sporting stage, Aruwin Salehhuddin is redefining what is possible for Malaysian sport.
Born in Bellingham, Washington, to Malaysian parents working in the United States, Aruwin’s birth was registered with Malaysian authorities without hesitation.
“There’s no place like home,” her parents believed.
Although she grew up in the United States, Aruwin was raised with Malaysian culture and food, with most of her extended family based back home.
At just 17, she became the youngest Malaysian and the first female Malaysian Alpine skier to compete at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Now 21, she is set to compete in her second Winter Olympics in Italy next year.
She is one of only three Malaysians to have competed at the Winter Olympics, alongside Alpine skier Jeffrey Webb and figure skater Julian Yee.
Earlier this year, Aruwin finished fourth in the women’s slalom at the ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, narrowly missing out on a podium finish against athletes from traditional winter sports powerhouses.
Rather than viewing the result as a disappointment, Aruwin saw it as proof of progress.
“My personal target is to see improvement from the last Asian Winter Games,” she said.
“I want to see the progress I’ve made in my skiing, especially mentally – how I deal with everything, how I prepare for competition, and how I feel going in.”
Last season alone, Aruwin competed in 54 events across Argentina, Europe and Asia, travelling between hemispheres to follow the winter season and gain exposure to different snow conditions and terrain.
“In terms of skiing, I want to see how much my technique has improved over these last four years,” she said.
“Of course, we all aim for the best results we can get at the Olympics. I would love to achieve my personal best there and get closer to the top 30. That would be my main goal.”
She admitted that her Olympic debut in 2022 was tough, with many athletes failing to finish the women’s slalom course. Aruwin was among them, although she did place 38th in the giant slalom.
Since then, she has redoubled her efforts.
With guidance from her father and manager, Salehhuddin Ayob, who represented Malaysia in canoeing at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, and the support of her mother, Siti Alphiah Tunggal, Aruwin is working towards becoming the first Malaysian to qualify for the Alpine Skiing World Cup.
Earlier this year, she competed at the World Championships, finishing 42nd out of 115 competitors in the giant slalom.
Despite having accumulated enough points to qualify for World Cup events, Aruwin believes she still needs time before stepping onto that stage.
“I have enough points to qualify, but I want more time before I compete in the World Cup,” she said.
“I have 40 points, but I want to get below 20 first. I don’t want to just turn up to tick a box. I want to be competitive and represent both myself and Malaysia with pride.”
In preparation for the Winter Olympics, Aruwin focused on rebuilding both physically and mentally. A five-week technical training camp in Austria sharpened her skills, while a bold switch in ski equipment – from Rossignol to Volkl race skis – boosted her confidence heading into the Olympic season.
It was a reminder that progress often requires embracing change, even when the stakes are high.
Beyond medals and rankings, Aruwin hopes to inspire a shift in mindset among Malaysians and Southeast Asians about winter sports.
“We actually have many talented Malaysians who are good at winter sports,” she said.
“For my part, I hope my performances will show that talent, discipline and resilience matter more than geography.”
Off the slopes, Aruwin gives back through motivational speaking, particularly to young athletes, sharing her journey to inspire belief.
While she acknowledges the challenges of limited facilities, high costs and low visibility for winter sports in Malaysia, she remains hopeful that greater support and awareness will help the sport grow.