LEONG Mun Yee < Back  
Sport Diving
CGA Malaysia   
Gender Women
Born 04 Dec 1984 in Ipoh, MAS
Height1.64 m
Human Interest
General Interest
Hobbies Music, dancing. (Athlete, 23 Jul 2021)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? Her parents encouraged her to take up the sport. "It was 1995 and the National Sports Council appointed a new diving coach to visit Perak to select divers for the 1998 Commonwealth Games squad. My parents took me to the tryouts and I was one of the six chosen from my state for the national team and eventually, the only one from Perak who competed at the Commonwealth Games at that time."
General Interest
Hero / Idol Chinese divers Fu Mingxia and Guo Jingjing. (bolapantaitimur.blogspot.com, 10 Feb 2014)
Awards and honours She was flag bearer for Malaysia at the opening ceremony of the 2015 South East Asian Games in Singapore. (southeastasiansports.blogspot.com, 15 Mar 2015)

She received the 2013/14 Excellent Achievement Special Award at the 2015 Perak Sport Award Ceremony. (themalaysiantimes.com.my, 23 Dec 2015)

Together with her diving partner Pandelela Rinong, she received National Sports Awards in 2009 and 2013 for Best Female Team. (theborneopost.com, 20 May 2014; bernama.com, 27 Apr 2010)

She was named the 2009 Sportswoman of the Year by the Malaysian Universities Sports Council [MASUM]. (Facebook page, 10 May 2015)

She was named Perak Sportswoman of the Year in Malaysia on four occasions between 1996 and 2009. (Facebook page, 10 May 2015)

In 2007 she was presented with the Ahli Mahkota Perak [AMP] Honour by the Sultan of Perak in Malaysia. (thestar.com.my, 23 Apr 2007)

She was named the 2001 Olympian of the Year by the Olympic Council of Malaysia. (Facebook page, 10 May 2015)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She began taking swimming classes at age two. She got involved in diving at age 10 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
General Interest
Other information RETIREMENT
In January 2022 she announced her retirement from the sport and began serving as an assistant coach for the Malaysian diving team. "Retirement is expected from all athletes at some point, but it is not the end. For me, it is just a turn in life as I am retiring as an athlete, but my mind is still very much with the sport. My retirement is not a sudden decision as I had planned it after the Tokyo Olympics. Also, coaching the national team is only a temporary thing as my goal is still to set up a diving academy. My plan is to start with kids as young as five to prepare them for the sports school and the national team." (nst.com.my, 06 Jan 2022; themalaysianreserve.com, 06 Jan 2022; thestar.com.my, 02 Jan 2022; sinarharian.com.my, 01 Jan 2022; thevibes.com, 01 Jan 2022)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2019 she began studying for a master's degree in corporate communications at the University of Putra Malaysia [UPM]. A year later she decided to put her studies on hold to focus on the Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Believe it or not, I only graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2017. I love studying and I decided to go for my master's in 2019. But then the 2020 Olympic Games was pushed back a year and so I had to postpone my studies in order to prioritise the Olympic preparations." (thevibes.com, 01 Jan 2022; thestar.com.my, 24 Sep 2020; nst.com.my, 26 Aug 2020; femalemag.com.my, 01 Oct 2019)
Further Personal Information
Higher education Communications - University of Putra Malaysia [UPM]: Kuala Selangor, MAS
Occupation Coach, Student
Languages English, Malay, Mandarin
General Interest
Injuries She underwent nose surgery in 2016. (nst.com.my, 20 Oct 2016)

She sustained neck and back injuries in 2014, which caused her to pull out of grand prix events in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (thestar.com.my, 22 Oct 2014)

In 2013 she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a viral infection while training in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. (nst.com.my, 19 Mar 2013)

She underwent a wrist operation in 2004. (gc2018.com, 01 Apr 2018)

She has suffered ligament tears in both ankles during her sporting career. (Athlete, 23 Jul 2021)
Sporting philosophy / motto "Never give up." (Athlete, 13 Aug 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement Winning silver in the women's 10m synchronised platform at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. (Athlete, 23 Jul 2021)
Most influential person in career Her parents. (olympic.org.my, 24 Aug 2020; Athlete, 13 Aug 2018)
Famous relatives Her brother has competed in swimming for Perak state in Malaysia. (buro247.my, 06 Jul 2017)
Milestones At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo she became the first Malaysian athlete in any sport to compete at five editions of the Olympic Games. (tatlerasia.com, 06 Dec 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2021)

In 2009 she and Pandelela Rinong became the first divers representing Malaysia to win a medal at the world championships by claiming bronze in the 10m synchronised platform in Rome, Italy. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Jul 2018; The Star, 21 Jul 2010)

In 2002, together with Farah Begum Abdullah, she became the first female Malaysian diver to win a medal at the Asian Games. The pair claimed bronze in the 3m synchronised springboard in Busan, Republic of Korea. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Jul 2018; The Star, 08 Feb 2007)
Further Personal Information
Residence Kuala Lumpur, MAS
General Interest
Nicknames Angela (Athlete, 23 Jul 2021)