"I am satisfied to be able to perform and compete healthily with athletes from Sarawak.

"I overtook the position on the fifth throw of 15.11 metres, but I was a bit nervous when waiting for my competitor to finish his sixth throw before being confirmed as the champion," he said when contacted by Bernama.

According to him, the first thing that came to mind after being confirmed as the winner of the event was his family.

"This victory is proof of the sacrifices he has made throughout his career as an athlete... all the sweat and tears have been paid off with the gold medal that I have dreamed of all along.

"This success is also dedicated to the people of Sabah who have always supported the state contingent," he said, adding that the success was also aided by the guidance of his coach, Suhaimin, especially in terms of improving his technique and mentality when competing.

Regarding his future plans, Earl Isaac has set a target of representing the country at the 2027 SEA Games and will strive to qualify through the tournaments he will participate in.

Meanwhile, he has made world shot put champion Ryan Crouser his idol and source of motivation.

"I watch Ryan Crouser's videos a week before competing to get the rhythm and motivation," he said.

Earl Isaac also advised young athletes not to easily admit defeat if they face failure in a competition.

"Don't let one day's defeat make you despair forever, instead use that defeat as a strength because I myself have been through it," he said.

He also listed discipline, consistency in training, adequate water intake and enough rest as important factors to achieve the best performance.

-- BERNAMA