Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s young shot put athlete, Earl Isaac Mitzler Fredolin, is targeting a gold medal at the 22nd Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor from Aug 15 to 24.
The 18-year-old is also aiming to better his personal best of 15.32 metres in the event.
“So far, I am very satisfied with the improvement in my performance, thanks to the effectiveness of the comprehensive training plan and programme prepared by my coach, Suhaimi Kinsoi,” he said.
Speaking about his preparations for Sukma, the 2022 Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Sportsman of the Year said his current focus is on improving his physical strength and refining his throwing technique.
According to him, adapting to the weight of the shot used in the open category has been his biggest challenge, as it differs from the specifications used at school-level competitions.
“To overcome this challenge, I train between four and six hours daily while paying close attention to my diet and ensuring I get sufficient rest,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining body flexibility, saying it plays a significant role in achieving accurate throwing technique during competition.
Recalling his performance at the Malaysia Higher Education Institutions Games (Sipma) in Johor in September last year, he described it as one of the most memorable moments of his sporting career.
“I managed to set a new personal best of 15.32 metres using the 7.26kg shot. It has certainly become an important benchmark for me to continue moving forward,” he said.
He also successfully defended his gold medal for the fourth consecutive time at the 2025 MSSM Athletics Championships in Perlis in August last year.
He said the achievement was made possible through the unwavering encouragement and guidance of his coach, who continued to mentor him despite the distance.
Commenting on his dual role as a student-athlete, Earl Isaac admitted that balancing academic commitments with training was challenging but had become part of his routine.
He added that he does not view the high expectations placed on him by various parties as pressure, but instead as motivation to succeed.
Reflecting on past experiences, he revealed that he had suffered a groin muscle tear, which taught him the importance of proper warm-up discipline.
On his long-term ambitions, Earl Isaac said he dreams of representing Malaysia at the SEA Games, a goal he has cherished since the age of 12.
He pledged to remain disciplined in following his coach’s instructions and prayed for the physical and mental strength needed to realise that dream.
