Malaysian high jumper, Lee Hup Wei, who competed in the Men‘s High Jump in the Tokyo 2020's Olympics couldn‘t hide his gloom and devastation over his "failed" jumping attempts in the event.
When asked whether he will be redeeming his loss in the next Olympic 2024 event (which will be held in Paris), he immediately shook his head. He said, "I'm done. I don't want to take the opportunity away from the junior athletes just so I could have another chance at winning."
In between the interview, Lee Hup Wei was seen struggling to speak, trying to contain his sadness. At one point, he couldn't stop repeating his defeat, saying "it was completely my own fault", "I'm not doing well,", and "I'm sorry.". Towards the end of it, the Astro Arena reporter finally broke down and told Lee Hup Wei, "On behalf of 32 million Malaysians... thank you, Hup Wei."
The immense pressure of competing in something as big as the Olympics is not something to be taken lightly. International athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have both withdrawn from an important event over mental health concerns, showing us how important it is to put our mental health ahead of everything. We are not solely defined by our achievements, and we hope Lee Hup Wei knows that.
Send some love on his Instagram account and let him know he has indeed made us proud, no matter the outcome!