Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 12, 2024: The Olympic Council of Malaysia has selected Mrs. Tang Kwai Mae, better known as Mae Chen within the aquatic sports community, as the recipient of the OCM Women and Sport Award for 2024.
This award aims to recognize her contributions and dedication to the development of sports, particularly in aquatic sports, at both the national and international levels. She has been actively involved in aquatic sports for nearly two decades, starting her journey as a certified National Level 3 Swimming Technical Official in 2006.
She subsequently completed all technical courses at the national level, qualifying as a Swimming Technical Official under the Asian Swimming Federation (Asia Aquatics) in 2010 and the International Swimming Federation (FINA – now World Aquatics) in 2014.
She has contributed her expertise as a Swimming Technical Official for various swimming championships organised by the Kuala Lumpur Swimming Association, the Malaysia Swimming Federation and the Malaysia Games (SUKMA). Internationally, her services have also been sought for the Asian Swimming Championships, the World Swimming Championships and the Southeast Asian Games, ASEAN Para Games, Asian Games and Paralympic Games.
In addition, she has been actively involved in sports administration, having been elected Assistant Secretary in 2008 before assuming the role of Honorary Secretary of the Kuala Lumpur Swimming Association in 2010, a position she continues to hold. Her leadership has earned the trust of the swimming community, leading to her election as Assistant Honorary Secretary of the Malaysia Swimming Federation (formerly known as the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia) for the term 2011-2014 and as Honorary Secretary for eight years, from 2015 to 2023.
During her tenure with the Malaysia Swimming Federation, she also took on the responsibility of serving as team manager for the national swimming and diving teams at various International swimming and diving championships as well as all multi-sport games under the jurisdiction of the OCM, including the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
Currently, she continues to serve as the Vice President of the Southeast Asia Swimming Federation, a Bureau Member of Asia Aquatics for the term 2024-2028 and a Bureau Member of World Aquatics since 2022.