Dato Pandelela Rinong, born in Bau, Sarawak, discovered diving at the age of eight when a coach identified her potential during a school programme. With determination and strong family support, she quickly progressed, securing her first Bronze medal at the National Age Group competition in 2004. Just three years later, she was selected to join Malaysia’s National Team.
Her career has since been marked by historic achievements. At the London 2012 Olympics, she became the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympic medal, taking Bronze in the 10m platform. Four years later, she added a Silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics. In 2021, she further strengthened her international reputation by winning Gold at the FINA Diving World Cup in Tokyo.
Her success has brought pride to Sarawak and Malaysia, making her a symbol of perseverance and excellence in sport. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was conferred the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak, carrying the title ‘Dato’, by the His Excellency The Governor of Sarawak in 2021.
Despite her global achievements, Dato Pandelela remains grounded and committed to inspiring future generations of athletes while continuing to represent Malaysia with distinction.