US-based runner Denise Chen’s golden Malaysian homecoming

Denise Chen Jie Yi, a five-year-old runner from the United States, started running alongside her father, Chen Li-Hung, at events in the US. Twenty years later, she is making waves at the Malaysia Games or Sukma, held at Universiti Putra Malaysia Stadium in Serdang. The distance runner clinched two gold medals in two days, breaking the women's 10,000m Games record with a time of 39:47.28 and winning the 1,500m in 4:50.15.

Denise's journey began at eight when her father enrolled her in a youth running club in Los Angeles. She later excelled in the American school and collegiate systems, eventually developing her talent in the competitive American cross-country circuit. Her father, Chen Li-Hung, played a crucial role in introducing Denise to the Sukma, contacting the Federal Territories Athletics Association (FTAA) to secure her participation.

The support of her father and the FTAA has made her homecoming in Malaysia all the more special. Denise believes her performance demonstrates the talent of Malaysian distance runners who have developed overseas and hopes to encourage the Malaysian athletics community to be more proactive in identifying and nurturing such athletes.