NORASEELA MOHD KHALID
“Sport should be based on the athlete’s pure performance and ability. Gender, race, religion, ability, socioeconomic background—these should be seen as our strengths and gifts, making sport more diverse and inclusive.”
Meet Noraseela Mohd Khalid OLY, a passionate and enthusiastic advocate for sport and life. She began taking sport seriously at the age of 14, training in the 400m hurdles. From her debut at the junior level in 1995 to representing Malaysia at the 2012 Olympic Games, Noraseela has had an incredible athletic journey. She has always loved being involved in meaningful programs and events, using sport as a way to grow alongside others.
“My sporting journey started at school, where I played many sports, including netball, hockey, and handball. At 14, my teacher, Mr. Mahadzir, introduced me to the 400m hurdles, even though our school didn’t have hurdles to practice with. It was the hurdle technique itself and my coach’s excitement for growing the sport that motivated me.
As an athlete, you need to compete against the best athletes and train in high-level environments to improve your performance. Training camps and competitions in Germany and South Africa, in particular, have opened my mind in many ways, allowing me to experience the level of professional athletes and settings. The people I have met and those involved in sport have changed the way I think about life, making me more humble.
My father loved sport and always supported my sporting career by showing up at local competitions. He’s very proud of my achievements. My coaches and peers also played a huge role in my journey—we fought for the same goals: to reach our full potential. I’m also grateful to the people who believed in me and trusted my ability to lead and empower others.”
“Only a small portion of athletes make it to the highest stage—the Olympic Games. But any performance where an athlete has given their best effort is more important than medals or titles. Find your own path to success in both sport and life. Trust that you have it in you—and just go for it.”
BARRIERS TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN SPORT
“Sport should be based on the athlete’s pure performance and ability. Gender, race, religion, ability, socioeconomic background—these should be seen as our strengths and gifts, making sport more diverse and inclusive.
We need to place more emphasis on education—starting at home, continuing through school, and into higher education. We must value education to be awakened to our potential.
Sport has all the elements that can enrich many people’s lives, especially athletes. With sport, athletes learn new skills, better understand their body and mind, explore new places, and most importantly meet people of different backgrounds that leads you understand the world better and live in harmony.
Steps that can be taken:
Governments and organisations must be more effective and accountable in sport development and health by prioritising education.
We need more qualified educators who can transfer the right knowledge and resources to communities.
Parents must be supported so they can raise their children with care, love, and the space to grow.
Society and community play a vital role. We are social beings who need connection, bonding, and meaningful interaction to live peacefully and in harmony.”
THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN SPORT
“Media plays a huge role these days in promoting almost anything, including diversity and inclusion in sport. The information and narratives can be both positive and negative, depending on how the viewer understands and interprets them. Everyone is different, and the way they were brought up—especially the education system they were exposed to—will determine how they see and understand things.
We need to be more careful and thorough when disseminating information, including images, to the public. More accurate and educational content would be useful. Storytelling will be more beneficial for people from all walks of life when it is authentic and reflects the real-life experiences of many.”
NORASEELA’S POSITIVE EXPERIENCES OF DIVERSITY
“When I was young, I naturally wanted to connect with people from different backgrounds—it just felt natural and meaningful. Having a brother with cerebral palsy throughout his life taught me to be more understanding and to appreciate others. Don’t just look at someone’s outward appearance—look for the small and beautiful things about them as human beings.
Being active in organisations and society has given me the chance to organise and be part of many projects. One of them is ILEAP, where we work to bridge the gap between able-bodied and differently-abled individuals. Sport and leadership are the main focus of the programme.
I truly appreciate and am proud of my team—especially Tania Lee, Vice President of the Malaysian Olympism in Action Society (MOiAS), with whom I’ve worked closely.
In my other role as President of the Malaysia Olympians Association (MOA), I’m proud that we concluded the Be the Next Olympian programme last year, in conjunction with Olympic Day and the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Around 1,700 student-athletes across four venues were impacted, and I hope we can continue and improve the programme this year.”
“There are many opportunities in the sports industry—you just have to look for them and get involved.
Start by volunteering in different roles to be part of decision-making processes and to truly understand the work and impact you can bring to the table. Just make sure you do your part, but don’t be too hard on yourself or strive for perfection all the time. Imperfection is part of the journey; it helps us learn, grow, and become wiser.“
