This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
SHE was barely a teenager when the 1990 Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Sarawak turned her into a sensation within the aquatics scene. Tania Bugo, at just 14, captured the hearts of many with an incredible haul of 13 gold medals in swimming—a record that remains unmatched to this day. Her breathtaking performance on home soil not only cemented her legacy in Sarawak sports but also made her an icon, despite never competing at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games or Asian Games.
Her 13-gold triumph wasn’t just a number; it represented sacrifice, resilience, and the culmination of years of intense training. Winning all those events, from the heats to the finals, was not an easy feat. Tania competed in multiple races, overcoming exhaustion to reach the finish line and again. She owed her success not only to sheer determination but also to the tireless support of her coach, Victor Tan.
At the time, her achievements were celebrated with the gift of a Proton Saga car—a grand gesture of appreciation for her efforts at the time. The reward was as significant as it was symbolic, marking her as a golden girl of Sarawak sports. But behind the fanfare was a young girl who had already endured years of gruelling training.
Even before her monumental triumph at Sukma, she had been selected for the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. However, Tania made the difficult decision to decline the offer, even as officials came to her home, urging her to reconsider.
Her mind was already made up; the strain was too much. She had been training since she was around eight-years-old, spending nine back-breaking hours in the pool each day and waking up at 4am to practice at the Stampark pool in Kuching. While other 14-year-olds were simply attending school, Tania was juggling intense training sessions with her studies, all while facing the weight of expectations on her shoulders.
Her coach, Victor, once remarked that Tania had the potential to succeed in international waters, not only due to her talent but also the physical attributes needed to excel. Despite this, Tania chose to step back, recognising the cost of her early achievements.
Reflecting on her 13-gold triumph at Sukma, she credited her success to the rigorous training and the strong support from the Sarawak State Sports Council and her coach. The Council had established a swimming project to prepare Sarawak’s athletes for the Games, an initiative that led to other medal wins by swimmers like the famous Hii brothers—Hii Ding Lie and Hii Ding Kiong—as well as Imran Narawi and Jong Su Ting.
Tania’s strength wasn’t limited to her athletic prowess. Even at that young age, she showed a deep sense of self-awareness, deciding to walk away from competitive swimming when the toll became too great. In her own words, few seemed to understand the strain she was under—physically and mentally.
The decision to step back wasn’t made lightly. She alluded to the role her parents played, especially her father, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Hamid Bugo, Sarawak’s former State Secretary, who supported her decision and let her choose her own path. Her parents had encouraged her from the age of eight, standing by her side throughout her journey, and ultimately, respecting her choice to retire from competitive swimming.
After her brief yet illustrious career, Tania shifted her focus to education, running a kindergarten for 19 years after completing her studies. She has lived a quiet life since, now settled in Sematan, Lundu with her husband, Nicholas Law, and their two daughters. Except for one motivational talk she gave to athletes a few years ago, Tania has largely stayed out of the limelight. However, her legacy as the girl who made history at the Sukma remains, a quiet yet powerful tribute to her talent, perseverance, and grace.
Tania’s story, though brief in terms of her sporting career, is a powerful one. It is not just about the 13 golds she won at the 1990 Sukma, nor about the record she set, but about the strength she showed in knowing when to step away, when to prioritise her mental and physical well-being, and when to choose a life outside the pressure of the spotlight. Her legacy is not only one of unmatched sporting achievements but also one that reflects wisdom beyond her younger years. –DayakDaily
