Clean sweep for Sunway’s shining star

19 year-old Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi is the proud owner of five glittering gold medals having swept all the synchronised swimming events at the 26th SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia this year. Katrina and her team mates, having already delivered golds in the free duet, technical duet, free team and technical team events, were once again at their dazzling best, when they produced a consistent and energetic performance to overwhelm the spectators and judges in the fifth and final event, the free team combination. Performing to the song ‘Rio de Janeiro’, the team scored 75.363 points to easily win another gold medal.

Katrina (left) with her duet partner, Shareen Png

A delighted Katrina could hardly contain her excitement after helping Malaysia to make a spectacular medal tally. “I came with only a three-gold target in mind and I’ve won five – that’s a real bonus. Right now my priority is to try and qualify for the London Olympics next year but it won’t be easy. My personal target is the 2016 Olympics and, hopefully, I’ll continue swimming until then,” said Katrina, a student of the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) student at Sunway College.

An all rounder, Katrina has also done well outside the pool having achieved 4 A’s in her CIMP examinations, so far. She will be an Ontario Scholar at her coming graduation.

Katrina did her SPM at the Bukit Jalil Sports School. She was a gymnast from the age of 5 years before switching to synchronized swimming at the age of 12. Her demanding training schedule normally begins at 6.30 am till 9.45 am followed by classes and then returning back to the pool at 3 pm before finishing at 7.30 pm. When there is night training, she is back in the pool from 8.30 pm till 10 pm. Her younger sister Farah Ann is a gymnast.

At the recent 26th SEA Games in Palembang, Jacqueline won a gold in the women’s doubles bowling for Malaysia with Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi

Katrina’s connection to Sunway is two-fold as her mother Kimberly Ann Gagnon, is a lecturer in the CIMP.