Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya – Reproduction requires proper crediting and backlink to us. Kindly acknowledge the efforts of our editors in sourcing and conducting interviews.
Extreme sports such as motocross has long been seen as one best fit for male participants as they have the physical and mental capability in handling a sport that involves high speeds and heart-racing stunts on muddy, rugged terrain.
However, a young girl is going against every societal norm about males being the only one suitable for motocross and is out to prove that determination knows no age or gender barriers.
Who is she? She’s none other than 8-year-old Sophie Arissa Mohamad Naim, also affectionately known as Jelita.
From push bikes to motocross
In an exclusive interview with WeirdKaya, Nur Ain Azrina Mohd Alias, Sophie’s mother, revealed that her child’s journey into the world of extreme sports started with the simple yet thrilling experience of riding a push bike.
Along the way, they noticed she had a knack for balancing on two wheels and knew there was something special about their little one.
We then introduced her to push bike competitions and to our surprise, Sophie left us completely stunned by clinching the top spot in several competitions,” she said.
When Sophie turned four, her father, Mohamad Naim Isa, stumbled upon the Most Fun Gym (MFG), a motocross sports track in Damansara, and signed her up to further hone her bike riding skills.
Furthermore, her parents also took the initiative to learn and understand every aspect of motocross, from its safety measures to the absolute thrill of taking part in a race.
With the help of experienced coaches, Sophie dedicated much of her weekends to training and eventually paved her way into competitive motocross.
Since 2021, Sophie has actively participated in various competitions, where she consistently secured a spot among the top five competitors. Her latest achievement was during the Malaysian Motocross Championship 2023, where she was ranked at 5th place.
“Sophie usually competes with male participants, but with the gradual rise in popularity for motocross, there are now more female participants joining in as well,” said her mother.
Falling down & getting back up
Like motocross itself, Sophie’s journey had its fair share of bumps and obstacles. Additionally, she often faces the danger of sustaining severe injuries, such as this one instance of her falling off the bike during training.
When she fell, the goggles she was wearing scratched the skin underneath her right eye due to it being fitted too tightly.
“However, this incident didn’t deter Sophie from riding motorcycles. Instead of giving up, she became even braver and refused to quit whenever she got exhausted,” said her mother proudly.
One might wonder if taking part in such an extreme sport would hinder one’s academic pursuits, but that’s not the case for Sophie.
The young lass, who is currently studying at a Chinese-type national school, is not only an intelligent girl but also possesses time management skills that allows her to strike a balance between her studies and motocross.
According to Sophie’s mother, the weekdays are devoted entirely to studies and homework. On top of that, Sophie also actively participates in co-curriculum activities, where she has won several medals in athletics.
“She used to be part of the school gymnastics team, but because motocross and gymnastics practice are both on the weekends, she had to take a break from gymnastics and is now fully concentrated on improving her motocross skills,” she said.
Shattering stereotypes
When Sophie’s parents first announced that they would be sending her for motocross competitions, the reception was rather chilly.
‘It’s dangerous and she’s a girl’ was the common concern echoed from other family members,
“Being her parents however, we wholeheartedly supported her involvement in motocross, regardless of what others said,” recounted Sophie’s mother.
With time, Sophie eventually won the admiration and support of doubtful family members with her skills and determination, showing them that girls are equally capable of participating in motocross.
Addressing remarks that Sophie was losing her femininity by engaging in extreme sports, this was what her mother had to say:
“For those doubting her femininity, don’t worry. She’s still a child who loves playing with Barbie dolls and enjoys wearing makeup.
“She may look tough and competitive in her racing suit, but once she takes it off, she is Sophie – a very feminine and shy girl,” she added.
However, none of this would have been made possible were it not for the constant support given to Sophie by her father, who first ignited her interest in motocross.
On top of that, he also regularly accompanied her in her training sessions, where he personally coached her and even mastered the safety measures of motocross to ensure her well-being.
Dreaming big
Given the fact that motocross is still an emerging sport in Malaysia, Sophie’s parents are letting her explore motocross further for the time being, before she takes the next step in becoming more committed.
Her mother advised that parents shouldn’t stop their children from taking part in certain sports due to their gender but instead encourage them to try out different activities, including extreme sports.
“We’ve recognized her potential and now we’re guiding her to see how far she can excel in the realm of extreme sports.
We are extremely proud of Sophie’s progress and success in motocross. It’s not a common sport in Malaysia, and witnessing her compete fearlessly alongside boys has surprised and delighted us.
However, she also emphasised the importance of knowing the sport and its safety measures in order to prevent potential injuries.
When asked what was the one benefit she gained from participating in motocross, Sophie simply replied: “It helps me become more brave and fearless.”
While Sophie aspires to become a chef while conquering motocross tracks, her story echoes the boundless possibilities that open up when determination meets encouragement.
READ ALSO:
