Dayang Nursharzyra: Golden dives and graceful rise

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By Marlynda Meraw

At just 17-years-old, Dayang Nursharzyra Awang Nasaruddin has already written her name in the shimmering waters of Malaysian diving, leaving ripples that stretch far beyond the pool’s edge. The Malaysian Games (Sukma) XXI Sarawak 2024 became the stage where this young star illuminated the sporting world, seizing three gold medals—two in the 3-metre synchronised diving and one in the 1-metre individual diving.

A silver in the 3-metre individual diving accompanied her haul, a proof to her unyielding spirit. These were not merely medals; they were milestones along a path paved with devotion, persistence, and a love for the sport that runs deep in her veins.

This was not Dayang Nursharzyra’s first dance with destiny at Sukma. She had stood upon the diving board once before, back in Perak 2018, a wide-eyed eleven-year-old, marvelling at the spectacle of her first major competition. No medals graced her then, but the experience alone was a victory she cherished, a marker of how far she had come.

Her journey did not end there. In May 2024, at the 59th Malaysian Invitational Age-Group Aquatic Championship (MIAG) in Bukit Jalil, Dayang Nursharzyra once again took to the air. There, she struck gold in the 3-metre individual diving event, besting the formidable Lee Yiat Qing, the reigning Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women’s 10-metre platform gold medallist.

Competing against an athlete of that calibre was a surreal moment—one that demanded she dive deeper, summon every ounce of strength, and meet the challenge head-on.

However, amidst the applause, she remained humble, attributing her victory to a simple advantage—her familiarity with the springboard, compared to Yiat Qing’s mastery of the platform. Her modesty, however, only added to the weight of her accomplishments.

Synchronised hearts, a diving legacy forged by family

Dayang Nursharzyra’s story began long before the podiums and medals. It began with the gentle nudges of family, the quiet encouragement of parents who knew the power of dreams.

Born into a sports-loving family in Matang, she grew up with a foot in two worlds: one of academics, the other of athletic ambition. Her days at SJK Chung Hua No.5 and SMK Sungai Maong were filled with a balance of books and backflips, of school desks and springboards. But it was her enrolment at Bukit Jalil Sports School in early 2024 that truly signified her leap into the realm of serious competition.

Even before she could properly learn the names of dives, she was already in love with the water. Her parents took her to the pool at the tender age of four, and by six, she had stumbled upon a diving selection by sheer chance. The coaches spotted her natural flair, and what began as a child’s playful splashing soon transformed into a disciplined pursuit.

Her family is her rock. Her mother, Norafizah Busman, a former hockey player turned singer, and her father, an event coordinator, wove sports into their lives.

“My parents have always been supportive,” she said, a soft smile breaking across her face.

“They (parents) would drive us to training, juggle our schedules, and ensure we had what we needed.” For Dayang Nursharzyra, diving wasn’t just an individual pursuit; it was a family affair.

The third of four siblings, Dayang Nursharzura shares the pool with her brothers—the second and youngest are also divers, while the eldest brother took up lawn bowls, playing in the same Sukma 2024. Having her siblings in sports provided both comfort and inspiration. Her older brother, Awang Sharzan Nasrin Awang Nasaruddin, was not just a fellow diver; he was her partner in synchronised events. Even after she left for Bukit Jalil Sports School, their bond remained unbroken, their dives as synchronised as ever—proof of a sibling chemistry that transcends distance.

Through the deep end

The path to success, as always, is riddled with challenges, and Dayang Nursharzyra has faced her fair share. From the outset, diving demanded not just physical agility but also the mental resilience that many sports require. Injuries tested her resolve—a bruised shoulder in 2018 due to water pressure, recurring knee pain and discomfort on the Achilles tendon, as well as back issues.

“There were times when I felt really down,” she admitted. “It wasn’t just the pain, but also the fear of not being able to perform.”

The transition to the sports school marked a new chapter. When she finally left for it, the pangs of homesickness were hard to ignore, especially for someone so closely bonded to her family. Having spent her entire life surrounded by loved ones, the sudden solitude was a significant adjustment. However, she knew she had to make the leap to grow.

Gradually, she found her footing, thanks to the unrelenting support of her family, who made visits to Kuala Lumpur whenever they could to cheer her on.

Verses and Verticals

Looking ahead, Dayang Nursharzyra’s eyes are set on the horizon. Her immediate goal is to qualify for the next SEA Games, where she hopes to represent Malaysia and continue her journey toward international acclaim.

But diving is not her only love. Inspired by her mother, Dayang Nursharzyra also dreams of becoming a singer.

“I’d love to be a singer,” she confessed, if the world of diving didn’t turn out to be an option for her. “But I’m not sure if I’m good enough, but I do love to sing,” she added with a sheepish laugh with cheeks blushing with a mix of ambition and uncertainty.

And then, there is her academic path, where sports science beckons—a natural choice for someone so deeply connected to athletics.

Still, Dayang Nursharzyra remains open to wherever life’s currents might take her. For now, her story is being written with each dive, each leap, adding another line in a tale that has only just begun. — DayakDaily

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