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
IN the quiet Sibu town, where rivers thread through rain-soaked forests, a young boy named Dieung Manggang first learned the rhythm of the water. His father Manggang Tedong, an Iban, and his Chinese mother, Lau Su Ong watched as their son dipped his small feet into the clear blue of a swimming pool. This simple thing, even before Dieung’s kindergarten years, was the first step into a journey that would carry him to the grandest stage of all—Olympic waters.
Born in 1981, Dieung carried the strength of his mixed parentage and the grace of his natural surroundings. But his beginnings in swimming were not marked by ambition. It was his uncle who first coaxed him into a competition, offering a playful challenge that would set the tone for the rest of his life: “The first one out of the pool could get home early!”
Dieung, unaware that he was made to compete, swam with an ease and power that surprised everyone who witnessed him. He took home three golds that day, not knowing he had been performing on a stage that was only just beginning to widen.
By the age of 13, the young swimmer had already been chosen to represent Sarawak in the 1994 Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Perak, a feat that would be remarkable for any child, but more so for Dieung, who would go on to swim in the gruelling 1,500-metres and 800-metres events. His stamina, far beyond his years, became his defining strength, propelling him through three more Sukma, four Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and the Commonwealth Games in 1998.
Dieung’s speciality was in long-distance freestyle and butterfly events. At the Brunei SEA Games 1999, he claimed gold in both the 400-metre freestyle and 1,500-metre freestyle, demonstrating his endurance and strength. In the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games of 2001, he followed up with bronze medals in the 400-metre and 1,500-metre freestyle, as well as the 200-metre butterfly.
But it was the summer of 2000 that etched his name into the annals of sporting history as the first Sarawakian swimmer to enter the Olympics when he competed in a long-distance freestyle double. Alongside the legendary Sarawakian sprinter Watson Nyambek, Dieung found himself on the world’s most prestigious stage—the Olympics, held in Sydney. Though he finished 36th in the 1,500-metre freestyle and 43rd in the 400-metre freestyle, the weight of his accomplishment was immense, still.
For a boy who once swam for nothing more than the love of water, being there felt like a victory, and his name became synonymous with infinite possibility in Sarawak, where few had ever dreamed of touching the Olympic waters.
Often, he’s driven by his father’s advice, reminding him not to fall into the trap of early satisfaction before truly reaching his goal, a victory that can slip away at the very last moment.
“Never believe you’ve succeeded too soon. Once you’ve reached the peak, you’re already starting to fall—like a hiker reaching the top of the mountain, with only one way down from there,” the words Manggang would tell his son.
Dieung’s journey, however, did not stop there. His early career had seen him coached by local legends—veteran Sibu coach Hii Hieng Chiong and former State swimmer Hii Ding Kiong. By 11-years-old, he had already come under the guidance of China’s renowned coach, Cao Hong Ji. Dieung’s swimming skills were further refined, but it was his cousin Chiong Kung Ang who saw the hidden potential within Dieung, urging him to shift his focus to the long-distance races where his stamina would shine brightest.
“I was short compared to other swimmers,” Dieung reflected, “but my strength lies in my stamina, so I listened to my cousin’s advice and took up the longer distance events.”
“No pain, no gain. There are no shortcuts in competitive sports. Hard work can beat even natural talent if you stay determined and never give up,” Dieung said, hoping to pass the message on to future athletes.
His rise continued, bolstered by an international-class training stint in China in 1998, a pivotal moment that honed his skills to new heights. By the time he made his mark at the 1997 SEA Games with two bronze medals, and even more triumphantly in 1999 with two gold medals, Dieung had solidified his place as a force to be reckoned with.
Yet, the Olympic dream was a fleeting one. After his return from the SEA Games in 2001, Dieung found himself no longer part of the national team. Time passed, and younger swimmers filled the ranks.
“Going to the Olympics is just like a dream because it’s not even easy for athletes to qualify,” he shared.
His journey did not end in the pool as Sarawak took him back, nurturing his next steps. Sarawak sent Dieung to Beijing Sports University in 2003, where he pursued a degree in Physical Education that focused on swimming, deepening his understanding of the sport that had shaped his life. Now, as the head coach under the Sarawak Sports Council, Dieung’s mission is clear—to elevate the next generation of Sarawakian swimmers to heights even he could not have dreamt of.
Today, the boy from Sibu, once reluctant to compete, has become the architect of new dreams. His immediate plan is to raise the standards of coaching, knowing that behind every champion is a mentor who believes in them; just as his uncle, cousin, and coaches had once believed in him.
As the currents of life flow on, Dieung continues to swim—not just through water, but through the stories and lives of those he inspires, carrying with him the spirit of Sarawak wherever he goes.
His journey transcends the lanes of a swimming pool; speaking of perseverance, the power of dreams, and the resilience of those who push forward, no matter how strong the current. It’s proof of determination, to the way one can rise from humble beginnings and carve a path through sheer will and passion. –DayakDaily
