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
A lifetime of dedication to sport, to lifting more than just weights but also dreams, began in his humble makeshift gym, far from the limelight. It was in these moments that William Yeo Hui Kee, a man from Balingian, Mukah, found his true calling. From his early days in athletics, where he excelled in the shot put, to his later years as Malaysia’s first Southeast Asian (SEA) Games weightlifting gold medallist, William’s story is one of perseverance, quiet strength, and an unshakable will.
From humble origins, he emerged not only as a formidable athlete but also as the man who would eventually carry the weight of an entire sports category on his shoulders. In his early days, William didn’t start with weightlifting. He began with athletics, excelling in the shot put, and his prowess in this discipline earned him the title of champion at the 1969 Borneo Games. Yet, his true calling lay beyond the throwing circle.
The turning point in his life was when William, then representing Brunei, crossed paths with Deljeit Singh, the superintendent of the Prisons Department in Sarawak. The latter recognised the former’s potential and persuaded him to return to Sarawak, not just to work for the Prisons Department but to represent the State in sports. It was a decision that would change William’s life—and the course of Malaysian weightlifting—forever.
While working at the Prisons Department, William initially dabbled in bodybuilding. However, at Deljeit’s urging, he switched to weightlifting, a sport where he would soon find unprecedented success. It wasn’t long before William stood out, dominating the national weightlifting scene. He became a ten-time national champion, solidifying his place as one of Malaysia’s greatest athletes. His crowning achievement came when he delivered Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal in weightlifting at the 1977 SEA Games, making him a national hero.
Yet, William’s story was more than one of personal triumphs. His dedication to the sport saw him continue competing well into his 50s, a rare feat in weightlifting. Even in his later years, he competed in the veteran (50-54 year old) category at the Afro-Asian Championships, where he won another gold medal, showing that age was no barrier to his passion or skill.
His contributions to Sarawak and Malaysia were acknowledged as in 1970, he was awarded the Herald of the Order of the Star (BBS), and in 1978, the Meritorious Service Medal (PPB), both prestigious honours that recognised his exceptional service and achievements. However, his greatest legacy was yet to be written—not in his own victories, but in the victories of others.
William didn’t just lift weights; he lifted people. According to his son, Edmund Yeo, who followed in his father’s footsteps and became a national champion himself, William was instrumental in raising the standards of weightlifting in Sarawak.
“Before him, there were no weightlifters of pedigree in Sarawak,” Edmund reflected, capturing the essence of his father’s influence. Indeed, William’s efforts laid the foundation for the sport in Malaysia.
His coaching extended beyond his own family. William mentored many athletes, including Ong Yu Hee, who won the National Championships and the 1992 Malaysian Games (Sukma) gold medal, and Usopak Dibu, a two-time Super Heavyweight champion in 1993. These athletes, alongside others, were part of the 30 trainees William took under his wing when he started a weightlifting project in Sarawak in the late 1980s to prepare the State for Sukma. It was this project that firmly established William as the “Father of Weightlifting” in Sarawak.
Even as William groomed champions for Sarawak, he continued to contribute to the national level. He went to Kuala Lumpur to prepare athletes for the national team under the Malaysian National Sports Council (MSN), where he worked tirelessly until his health began to fail. Despite battling leukaemia, William never wavered in his dedication. He remained a coach, lifting the spirits and skills of the next generation of athletes, right up until his passing in 2016.
His son Edmund carried on the family legacy, becoming national weightlifting champion from 1990 to 1992 and winning a SEA Games gold medal in 2001, emulating his father’s earlier triumph. Together, both father and son created a legacy unmatched in Malaysian sports, a legacy of strength, resilience, and pride.
William’s contributions to weightlifting in Malaysia extended far beyond the medals he won. He shaped a sport, raised champions, and left a lasting impact on both Sarawak and Malaysia. Even in his final years, as he battled illness, William’s dedication to the sport remained unwavering, and his passing in 2016 at 77 years old marked the end of a life that left behind a lasting and inspiring legacy.
Today, William is remembered not only as a pioneer but also as a father of champions, both in his own family and in the broader world of Malaysian weightlifting. His life was not just about winning championships and competitions but about building a future for a sport that will forever be indebted to his strength and vision. –DayakDaily
