Khoo and Koay – Their Will Has Been Tested

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FROM FAT TO FITNESS

“They used to call me fatty” Khoo Taik Guan said with a smile. We stared back at him again while trying to imagine how this guy with a toned torso, defined muscles, and sturdy physique be overweight. But it’s true, Taik Guan was once a victim of school bullying due to his heavy weight. It has been an issue then and until now, if you’re different from what the society’s definition of normal, you will be mistreated.

However, instead of being down and depressed, hearing those hurtful words in his teenage years are what drives Taik Guan not only to lose weight but to become the better version of himself. At the age of 15, he attended boxing classes wherein part of his training was to run 14km to reach school under the blazing sun while carrying a heavy backpack. Soon after, he joined the dragon boat racing team that made him engage to high intense workout, rowing for half an hour and build up his amount of discipline. In between, he also got involved with running marathons, triathlons, mixed martial arts and water polo. When you say sports to Taik Guan, he’s not referring to one discipline. He means two or more.

My intention is simple, it is to challenge my limit and give the best out of myself.

“I joined a lot of sports that‘s why it gives me an advantage. Because I can easily pick up different parts of the muscle to use for that certain sports, I can switch my muscle in a different angle. Say for rowing more on upper body or in mixed martial arts you need flexibility, I can adjust to any of that. Sometimes the power doesn’t give you speed, the speed can replace the power, so people didn’t notice that speed equals to power, because of speed it can give a greater impact.” Taik Guan explains.

Yet, no matter how he mastered different sports discipline, this 31-year-old fitness trainer also didn’t expect to win the UA Test of Will fitness challenge. This passionate guy was one of the last 10 contestants who signed up for the challenge. Reason being, he’s been working since morning, like moving stuff from different places that’s why he’s not fully aware of the challenge. When he decided to go he’s not even wearing a proper shoe, so he has no choice but to ask a friend nearby to lend him a shoe. A shoe that’s larger than his size. Little did he know, that those last minute decision he made led him to victory.

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RUNNING MALAYSIA is the first running magazine in Malaysia that puts forward the best of the interest of all runners across the nation, may they be running for fun, fitness, or races.Dedicated to deliver the latest running news, events, tips, gadget features, nutrition and wellness advice, Running Malaysia is the one-stop source for information of running enthusiasts and athletes from amateur to experienced ones.