Gymnast Marvell braves pain for early birthday gold double at Sukma

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah gymnast Marvell Vincent Voo's second gold medal at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma) holds a special place in his heart, describing it as the most meaningful birthday gift of his life. The 18-year-old athlete surpassed his goal of winning just one gold, claiming two titles at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) today.

Marvell expressed that this triumph feels like an early birthday present, marking it as the most significant accomplishment of his career thus far. He shared that his shared victory with Pahang's Khalish Safiy Khairul Anwar in the men's parallel bars final came after both scored 12.675 points. Bronze medals were awarded to Penang's Neoh Kean Yong and Wilson Yeoh, as well as Negri Sembilan's Khalish Kasyi Khairi, who all achieved 11.525 points.

Despite recovering from several injuries, including shoulder, wrist, and knee issues, Marvell persisted through the Games, enduring daily physiotherapy sessions to manage the pain. He dedicated his success to his family, coaches, and teammates, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout his journey. Marvell's impressive performance at Sukma eclipsed his earlier achievements at Sarawak 2024, where he secured one gold and one bronze medal.