Money can buy a lot of things. Money can buy power, money can buy companionship& ‘friendship’ and heck, money can even buy sex. Money definitely can buy alot of things in the world but there is one thing that money cannot buy. Money cannot buy respect. I always believe that respect is not given. But it’s earned instead. You can force people to do a lot of things, but can’t go around demanding people to respect you. It is something you need to earn.

And speaking of respect, there’s one freediver that earned my respect and admiration. He’s Amir Noor. He was one of the athletes who competed in the mock competition organized by Freediving Adventure Malaysia.

During the competition, many athletes showed up without a personal surface coach. Seasoned freediving athletes would know that having a reliable and competent surface coach is very crucial in helping them perform with ease.

Seeing many athletes not having a coach with them during the competition, Amir stepped up and volunteered to be a surface coach for athletes who needed one on the spot once he was done with his turn. You can easily mistake him for being a professional paid coach if you saw him in action. Athletes were totally relaxed with him and he was not only encouraging, but attentive to them as they were performing as well.

Some of these athletes ended up performing better than Amir himself and did he go sour because of it and try to bring them down? No. He didn’t. Instead he celebrated their wins and achievements with joy written all over his face.

If this is not a great display of sportsmanship, I don’t know what is. Thank you Amir for doing all these. The world needs more people like you. And you made the freediving world a better and happier place for us all. 😄

If there is an award for The Best Display of Sportsmanship during the competition, it definitely should go to Amir.

Amir, you are my hero. 😄

📸 Credit to Swen Becht