KUALA LUMPUR: Shot putter Ziyad Zolkefli finally put his Tokyo 2020 heartbreak behind him, storming back onto the Paralympic podium with a sensational silver in Paris on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old athlete, who was left devastated after being controversially disqualified in Tokyo, where he was the defending champion, proved his doubters wrong by winning a silver medal in the F20 (intellectual impairment) category.
Ziyad recorded an impressive 17.18m, just behind Ukraine's Oleksandr Yarovyi, who clinched gold with a world-record throw of 17.61m.
Defending champion Maksym Koval of Ukraine settled for bronze (16.99m).
Ziyad's journey to redemption has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Haunted by the disqualification at Tokyo 2020 for reporting late to the call room, Ziyad made sure history didn't repeat itself.
This time, he arrived at the Stade de France a full 20 minutes early, determined not to let a technicality steal his chance of glory again.
Reflecting on his achievement, Ziyad couldn't hide his relief.
"The expectations were high for the gold medal, but I'm not disappointed because I tried and gave my best." Ziyad told Bernama on Tuesday.
"Most importantly, I overcame the episode that had haunted me since 2020. Winning silver feels like a dream."
While Ziyad narrowly missed out on the top spot, his silver medal holds a special place in his heart.
He dedicated the win to his father, Zolkefli Othman, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Sept 1.
"Despite my age, I am not thinking about retiring soon. If my body holds up, I'll compete again at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics," Ziyad boldly declared, showing that he's not done yet.
As for what's next, the shot putter is planning a well-earned break, eager to spend quality time with his family in Kuala Lumpur.
After all, conquering your demons is hard work, and Ziyad has certainly earned his moment of peace.