Junaidah Aman – Ratu Trek Termuda Malaysia

Anak kelahiran Taiping, Perak, Olimpian Junaidah Aman merupakan antara bakat termuda semasa puncak karier olahraga beliau. Pada usia 13 tahun, Junaidah bertanding buat kali pertama di Kejohanan Olahraga Terbuka Perak, di mana beliau menarik perhatian Shamsuddin Jaafar yang menjadi jurulatihnya. 

Junaidah membuat penampilan antarabangsa pertama beliau di Sukan SEAP 1969. Beliau merupakan atlet termuda untuk mewakili Malaysia pada masa itu. Beliau juga menyertai Sukan Asia 1970. Walaupun tidak berjaya memenangi pingat di kedua-dua kejohanan tersebut, Junaidah berazam untuk mengasuh bakat beliau sebelum kejohanan yang seterusnya. 

Pada tahun 1971, Junaidah bukan sahaja memenangi pingat emas dalam acara 400m, malah beliau memecahkan rekod yang dipegang oleh Mary Rajamani dengan catatan masa 56.1s. Beliau turut membawa pulang pingat emas dalam acara 4x100m (bersama Noreen Pereira, Fadzillah Ahmad & Yamuna Nair) dan 4x400m (bersama Marina Chin, Noreen Pereira dan Fadzillah Ahmad) serta pingat perak dalam acara 200m.

Kejayaan beliau diiktirafkan apabila Junaidah dinobatkan Olahragawati Negara pada tahun 1971 dan sekali lagi pada 1972. Pada tahun yang sama, beliau dipilih untuk mewakili Malaysia di Sukan Olimpik Munich 1972, di mana beliau menduduki tempat ke-6 dalam pusingan pertama acara 400m. 

Junaidah kembali ke Sukan SEAP 1973 dan berjaya memenangi pingat gangsa dalam acara 4x400m lari berganti-ganti bersama Marina Chin, Noraisah Wajib dan Esther Thaddaus. Namun, beliau terlepas dua pingat setelah menduduki tempat ke-4 dalam acara 200m dan 400m. Selepas itu, Junaidah membuat penampilan antarabangsa terakhir beliau di Sukan 1974 dan merangkul satu pingat gangsa dalam acara 400m dengan catatan masa 55.78s. 

Pada tahun berikutnya, Junaidah membuat keputusan untuk bersara dari dunia sukan untuk menumpukan perhatian kepada pelajaran sebelum menduduki peperiksaan HSC (kini STPM). Selepas itu, beliau mula bekerja sebagai polis. Namun, cinta Junaidah terhadap olahraga masih tersemat dan beliau merindui trek padang. Dengan dorongan daripada keluarga dan rakan-rakan, beliau mula berlatih semula dengan Sukan SEA 1977 sebagai matlamat. 

Malangnya, kaki kiri Junaidah tercedera semasa latihan untuk Kejohanan PRDM pada tahun 1976 dan beliau terpaksa rehat berbulan-bulan sebelum pulih. Ketika itulah beliau memutuskan bahawa beliau tidak dapat bertanding lagi kerana ia membuktikan sukar untuk beliau kembali ke prestasi yang diinginkan. Pada Sukan SEA 1977, Junaidah diberi penghormatan sebagai pelari terakhir untuk larian obor kejohanan tersebut.

Junaidah Aman telah tentunya mengabadikan nama beliau dalam sejarah sukan Malaysia. Semoga pencapaian beliau sentiasa diingati dan menjadi inspirasi oleh generasi akan datang. 

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Junaidah Aman – Malaysia’s Youngest Track Queen

Born in Taiping, Perak, Olympian Junaidah Aman was one of Malaysia’s youngest talents when at the peak of her career. At 13 years old, she competed for the first time at the Perak Open Athletic Championships, which got the attention of her coach, Shamsuddin Jaafar. 

Junaidah made her first international appearance at the 1969 SEAP Games. This made her the youngest Malaysian athlete in a major sporting event at the time. She also participated at the 1970 Asian Games. Although she did not manage to place at these championships, she was determined to improve and sharpen her talent before the next competition. 

In 1971, she did not leave the SEAP Games empty handed. Not only did Junaidah win gold in 400m, she broke the record previously held by Mary Rajamani with a time of 56.1s. She also brought home gold medals in 4x100m (with Noreen Pereira, Fadzillah Ahmad & Yamuna Nair) and 4x400m (with Marina Chin, Noreen Pereira and Fadzillah Ahmad) as well as a silver medal in 200m.

Junaidah’s achievements led her to be awarded 1971 Sportswoman of the Year, and again in 1972. During the same year, she was selected to represent Malaysia at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, where she placed sixth in the first round of the 400m event. 

Back at the SEAP Games in 1973, Junaidah managed to win bronze in 4x400m relay and narrowly missed out on two more medals after placing 4th in 200m and 400m. The 1974 Asian Games became her final international competition, where she secured the bronze medal in 400m with a time of 55.78s. 

Junaidah made the decision to retire from competing in 1975 in order to focus on her studies as she sat for the HSC (STPM). The following year, she began her career as she joined the police force. However, her love for the sport was still ingrained in Junaidah and she began to miss the sport. With encouragement from those around her, she started training again with the 1977 SEA Games as her goal for a comeback. 

Unfortunately, she injured her left foot while training during the PRDM Championship in 1976 and spent months recovering. It was then when she decided that she would no longer pursue athletics, stating that it would be difficult to return to form. She was then honoured at the 1977 SEA Games as the final runner of the torch relay.

Junaidah has made an everlasting mark in Malaysia’s sporting history during her few years on the track. We hope that her achievements will always be remembered and an inspiration for generations to come.