In the year 2023, Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah, aged 20, etched her name in the annals of waterskiing history for both Malaysia and Asia. She achieved this remarkable feat by securing the bronze medal in the jump category at the Under-21 World Championships, held in Boca Laguna, Mexico.

A year earlier, at 19, this emerging national waterski talent made a notable impact by earning an impressive score of 7,960 points in the tricks final at Oak Mountain State Park Lake. This accomplishment led to her winning a bronze medal at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, making her the first Asian woman to claim a medal at the international waterskiing level.

Aaliyah’s connection to waterskiing began at a young age of five when she observed performers executing water tricks at Putrajaya Lake. This early exposure ignited her passion for the sport. Just three years later, in 2011, she proudly represented Malaysia at the SEA Games in Palembang, where she effortlessly secured a gold medal in the women’s trick event.

The integral role of her family in her remarkable journey cannot be understated. Her father, Hanifah Yoong, holds the position of Malaysia’s national waterski coach, while her mother, Norzeela Sulaiman, is a valued member of the national waterski and wakeboard team. Aaliyah’s accomplishments are undoubtedly a result of her early exposure to waterskiing and the unwavering support of her family.