Thong Saw Pak

Thong Saw Pak began his athletic career as a swimmer, but found much more success as a weightlifter competing in the lightweight division. He gained international attention at the 1950 British Empire Games when, representing Malaya, he came in runner-up behind England’s Jim Halliday.

Two years later he travelled to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, although he had to represent Singapore, as Malaya did not yet have a recognized national Olympic committee. At the Games, he had to withdraw in the first round due to a back strain, although he did serve as the flagbearer in the opening ceremony.

His injuries forced him to retire from active competition after the Olympics, but he received a scholarship to study physics in the United Kingdom and eventually earned his PhD from Queen’s University. He then returned to teach that subject at the University of Malaya from 1959 on. He was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s Hall of Fame in 2016.