Teens dream of skateboarding medals for M’sia

SIXTEEN-year-old Mahathir Nor Daniel is carving his name on the international skateboarding stage, one trick at a time.

Inspired by his father, Mahathir has spent the last nine years perfecting his skills.

“I was seven when my dad, who is also a skateboarder, took me to a skatepark,” he told StarMetro.

“I used to cry a lot because I kept falling, but I got used to it and began to enjoy skateboarding.”

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The youngest of three children, Mahathir entered his first competition in Kota Tinggi at age 12, under the open category, as he wanted to challenge himself against adults.

He came in third place, marking his first taste of success.

Since then, he has competed internationally, including the King of Kuta competition in Bali (Indonesia) and the World Skate Championship in Japan in 2023.

This year, he ranked seventh at the Thailand Extreme Fest in May, and placed 77th out of 100 at the World Skateboarding Tour World Cup in Rome.

Mahathir recently suffered a setback when he broke his left arm a day before a competition in Singapore.

“I slipped and dislocated my elbow. It felt numb and an X-ray confirmed the fracture,” he said.

Despite his injuries, the SMK Sultan Ibrahim, Kulai, student follows a strict schedule, balancing between school and the sport.

“I usually train after school and skate on weekends. During exams, I scale back but daily skating helps me maintain my flow,” he said.

Despite his years of experience, Mahathir admits that he still gets nervous.

“I always feel nervous before a skate run, but that feeling drives me to work harder,” he said, sharing his plans to pursue skateboarding full time.

“Skateboarding used to be seen as vandalism but after being recognised as an Olympic sport, public perception has changed.

“I hope we can have more international-standard skateparks to encourage young talents,” said Mahathir who wants to bring home more wins.

Being scouted by professional skateboarding team The Razkals marked a turning point in Mahathir’s journey.

Fellow rising star Muhammad Mer Nullah Khan Marris Khan, better known as Momo, was also part of the team.

Like Mahathir, Mer was introduced to the sport by his father and began skating at five.

“I go to school in the morning and train in the evenings, sometimes until night,” said the student from SMJK Yu Hua in Kajang, Selangor.

The 15-year-old joined The Razkals in 2022 and recommended Mahathir and two others to the team.

“I first met Mahathir in Johor. He was better than me back then. I could only do ‘ollies’ while he was doing ‘kick flips’ with his eyes closed,” said Mer.

“We rarely train together but he always encourages me.”

The pair often compete side by side, including in Pattaya (Thailand) where they placed 11th and 12th.

Currently ranked 160th globally and among South-East Asia’s top 10, Mer has also racked up wins, including first place at the 2025 Jurong Skate Championship in Singapore.

“It was one of my proudest moments since I defeated top athletes from neighbouring countries,” he said.

“Unfortunately Mahathir was injured then, but it still felt like our shared win,” he said.

Like many young athletes, Mer has faced injuries, including “jumper’s knee” (patellar tendinitis) – a common condition among athletes involved in a lot of jumping.

“I felt pain in my knee and could not walk.

“I underwent sound wave therapy, and I am now fully recovered and focused on competing,” said the eldest among four siblings.

He is hoping for more indoor skateparks and more challenging obstacles in Malaysia.

“Since our weather is unpredictable, indoor parks with bigger obstacles will help skaters train consistently,” he said.

Both Mahathir and Mer are dreaming of representing the country on the world’s biggest sporting stage some day.

“My short-term goal is to secure a SEA Games (South-East Asian Games) spot. In the long run, I aim to turn professional and bring medals home for Malaysia,” said Mer.

“I hope to win the country’s first Olympic gold,” he added. – By MYSARA FAUZI