Hall of Fame

Rabuan Pit

Sport: Athletics (Track & Field)
Year Inducted: 2004

At the 1982 Asian Games, the odds were against Rabuan Pit. It was his first Asian Games and he was understandably nervous. Troubled with an Achilles tendon injury, Rabuan was not in peak condition and he was up against formidable competitors. However, the presence of Dr. Jegathesan, former national athlete who was a medical officer at the Games, gave Rabuan the inspiration he needed. The 26-year-old gave the race his all, finishing the 100m race barely a fraction of a second away from the rest of the pack. Rabuan won the gold medal at the Games; Malaysia’s only gold that year in New Delhi – 16 years after Jega had won the same event.

That momentous win was the pinnacle of Rabuan’s athletic career which had begun during his secondary school days in Malacca. Growing up as the son of a rubber-tapper, Rabuan learnt perseverance and mental fortitude from an early age. He started taking part in competitions for his home state while in school, but it was only after he joined the Police Force that his talents came to the attention of national coach Nashatar Singh.

Rabuan was soon representing Selangor and within two years, in 1978, he became the national champion in 100m, 200m and 400m events. At the 1979 SEA Games he won the 400m gold with a record time of 47.79 seconds as well as the 200m gold. He also bagged the silver in the 4x400m event.

A repeat of his 1978 triple win, coupled with his victory in the 200m and 400m events at the Suharto Cup earned him the Sportsman of the Year award in 1980. He was given the award for a second time after his remarkable run in Delhi. In the following year, he had the opportunity to race against the legendary Carl Lewis from USA at the Inaugural IAAF World Championships in Helsinki.

Sadly, his recurring Achilles tendon injuries crippled his athletic career, forcing him out of competition. He then moved on to training athletes in the Police Force. Rabuan places discipline as an important ingredient to success, along with sheer determination and the desire to win. Those were what made Rabuan Pit the “Fastest Man in Asia”, the second Malaysian after Jega, and the last, to this date.

ACHIEVEMENTS (HIGHLIGHTS):

As Athlete
1979 - SEA Games, Jakarta, 200m [Gold], 400m [Gold], 4x400m [Silver]

1980 - Suharto Cup, Jakarta, 200m [Gold] and 400m [Gold], Sportsman of the Year award

1981 - SEA Games, Manila, 200m [Bronze], Australia Open, Perth, 100m [Bronze]

1982 - Asian Games, New Delhi, 100m [Gold] & 200m [Bronze], Bombay Open, 200m [Gold], Sportsman of the Year award

1985 - SEA Games, Bangkok, 200m [Silver], 4x100m [Silver], 4x400m [Silver]

Back to Hall of Fame