The Sunday that rounded off the Formula One weekend was a great one. I was lucky enough to spend the final day of the Malaysian Grand Prix’14 in the Paddock Club, and needless to say, it was an amazing experience! Not to mention, I met one of my heroes that day: Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Nothing but smiles with the badminton legend
For those who don’t know, Lee Chong Wei is one of Malaysia’s national icons, and one of the idols for many sporting dreamers out there. I don’t even have to play badminton to feel inspired by him, or be in awe of his 5 awards, 53 titles and 28 runner-ups – the World Championships and the Olympics amongst a myriad of others. In fact, I would never even consider myself a sportswoman, but Lee Chong Wei is about a lot more than just badminton. I’m always met with surprise when I voice how much I admire him, and constantly asked the question: do you even play badminton, do you even play sport? The answer, really, is no, but I can assure you that most of the people who have watched and supported him through the years will say the same thing. He embodies my country, our country, and all the hard work that has gone into putting Malaysia on a global stage. I remember almost crying when he lost an Olympic gold medal for the second time to Lin Dan, but that loss was not so much a defeat when one remembers how far he had gone to get there in the first place; for me, Lee Chong Wei has sailed through a sea of triumphs, and no matter what, will remain a paragon of determination and skill to inspire not only Malaysians, but dreamers around the world. I am proud to call myself a Malaysian, standing by his side.
Moving on from my patriotic sermon, I also had the chance to meet Eric Benét. He’s a four-time grammy nominated artist and also happens to be Halle Berry’s husband – needless to say, he was just as charming and handsome as I would have thought, and had a surprising penchant for selfies.
Selfie time in Lewis Hamilton’s pit before the race
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to grab a picture with all the wonderful people I was there with – of which there were many, including a very handsome Benedict Cumberbatch – but all I can say, is that I feel very grateful and blessed to have been in such esteemed company (of which the best was of course my father, who was my date for the day).
The best view!
Because I study abroad, I haven’t really been able to go to the F1 for the last few years. I had forgotten how exhilirating it was when the race started, when something went wrong, or when a driver was doing everything right (go Lewis Hamilton, go Petronas!). I hold a deep respect for everyone who organized and partook in the Grand Prix, and can safely say that it is something that Malaysia is, and will continue to be, very proud about.
Buttery Things 