Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 17, 2022: Malaysian water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah continued her rise on the global stage by winning a bronze medal at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama on Friday, July 15.
Aaliyah, who turned 19 the following day, finished third in the waterski open women’s tricks with 7,960 points at the Oak Mountain State Park.
Neilly Ross of Canada won gold with 9,690 points followed by Anna Gay of the United States in second place with 9,190 for silver.
Aaliyah’s father and coach, Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah, posted from Malaysia and congratulated his daughter on her early birthday present and celebration – a World Games bronze medal.
“Congratulations on winning your historical first ever World Games waterski podium - third in waterski open women tricks for Malaysia and Asia,” Hanifah wrote.
“Well done also and thanks to Larry Gisler, Aaliyah's coach for 14 years since 2008 when Aaliyah was five years old. Huge thanks to all the sponsors.”
Aaliyah announced her arrival as a waterski talent when she took part in the OCA’s second Asian Beach Games in Muscat, Oman in 2010 at the age of seven and the following year competed at the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
Since then, she has gone from strength to strength at national, regional and continental level – and now has a podium place at The World Games for non-Olympic sports.
In a memorable display, Aaliyah also qualified for the final of the women’s jump and finished fifth.