KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran diver Leong Mun Yee is set to take the plunge into retirement after the Tokyo Olympics next year. But don't expect her to walk away from the sport completely yet.
In fact the 35-year-old will be doing something interesting after competing in the Tokyo Olympics.
Having served the country with distinction for two decades, the Ipoh-born is set to become the first Malaysian to feature in five Olympics.
Mun Yee, who has dived at Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012), is a member of an exclusive club featuring sailor Kevin Lim and shuttler Lee Chong Wei as four-time Olympians.
Mun Yee, who was overlooked for the 2016 Rio Olympics, sees Tokyo as the final encore of her diving career.
In a webinar session titled "Reaching for the Stars and Beyond" organised by the National Sports Council and hosted by former national squash player Sharon Wee last week, Mun Yee shared her ideas of starting up a diving academy whilst also looking to dabble in breakdancing.
"I loved studying and I decided to go for my Masters in Mass Communications at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) last year. But then the Olympics was pushed back a year and I had to postpone my studies in order to prioritise the Olympic preparations.
"After I retire, the plan is to go back and finish my studies and I'm also keen to set up a diving academy in time.
"But I'm also very interested in venturing into breakdance. It's considered a sport now and it's something that I never had a chance before," she said.
Breakdance will make its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games and Mun Yee was certainly getting the steps in her footwork during her spare time during the Movement Control Order period from March to June.
Mun Yee, who has one silver and two bronze medals from the World Aquatic Championships, added that the secret to her longevity in a physically demanding sport is to have patience and always stay motivated.
"Motivation is very important and I get this from my coaches, family, teammates and friends. Besides that I always set myself a new target each year and I work hard to achieve it.
"Of course it is not as easy as it seems, especially in diving, and you really need courage, mental strength and patience."
Patience is certainly a virtue that Mun Yee has and it will certainly be the perfect finale to her career if she ends the long wait for her first Olympic medal next year.