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SARAWAK hero Bonnie Bunyau Gustin is poised to receive more than RM1 million for his outstanding performance at the Paralympics in Paris, according to Sarawak’s Women, Community Wellbeing, and Early Childhood Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
“The federal government may offer up to RM1 million for gold medal winners,” Fatimah said today in Kuching. “Sarawak could contribute half of that as well, but we will wait for the official announcement from Putrajaya first.”
On September 7, international para-athlete Bonnie Bunyau earned applause across the nation for winning gold at the Paris Paralympic Games, where he set a new world record by lifting 232kg in the 72kg category.
Fatimah praised Bonnie, calling him both a Sarawak and Malaysian hero. "Another gold medal at the highest level in the world – Bonnie is truly a Sarawak hero. He serves as an inspiration to all Sarawak folk, and we are immensely proud of him,” she told reporters. She added that she had also shared her congratulations on social media.
Bonnie’s triumph in Paris follows his earlier world record on 25 August at the ParaWorld Weightlifting Championship in the United Arab Emirates, where he won gold in the 72kg category by lifting 231kg, surpassing his previous world record of 230kg set during the 2021 World Championship.
He is also the reigning Paralympic World Champion, having secured gold in weightlifting at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.
Bonnie first made national headlines in 2019 for his successes in global competitions. Last year, he added to his accolades by winning gold for Malaysia in the Commonwealth Para-Games in Birmingham, England, in the same weightlifting category. – September 14, 2024.
