KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysians have become mini ambassadors for the nation through their involvement in international sport. One such Malaysian is Yvette Michael.
Hailing from Bentong, Pahang, Yvette is a familiar face at major sporting events, having covered 11 Summer and Winter Olympics around the world.
Her journey is proof that passion and perseverance can take you places.
“The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” has always stuck in her mind.
“That’s the beauty of sports and sportsmanship,” said Yvette, 54.
Her love for sport began in Bentong, about 65km east of Kuala Lumpur, where she watched the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with her father.
“Dad was a big sports fan. He rigged the television, don’t ask me how (in jest), but we managed to watch the highlights,” she said.
Her father, Rex Michael, was attached to Catholic High School Bentong while her mother, Angela Jessie Michael, taught English at SMK Sulaiman.
The family later moved to Shah Alam after Rex became assistant headmaster at SMK La Salle Klang, while Angela joined Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). They then settled down in Petaling Jaya when Rex was posted to SMK La Salle Petaling Jaya.
Yvette eventually moved to the United States, where she studied journalism and international relations and entered the media industry.
But family always came first.
“My first Olympics was Sydney 2000. On my first day at work with a US news agency, I received a phone call that my dad had suffered a massive heart attack. I had to rush back, and he passed away a few weeks later,” recalled Yvette during a Zoom call with Twentytwo13 on Sept 2.
As the eldest of four siblings, Yvette returned to Malaysia to care for her mother and sisters.
“I wrote to every single human being while in Malaysia as I needed a job. (Augustus) Ralph Marshall then reached out. I knew he was from Astro but had no idea we had family connections.
“I told him I needed some part-time help and attended an interview.
“At the end of the interview, he said, ‘You have no clue who I am, don’t you?’ He then explained that he knew my dad.
“So yeah, he really saved me and my family as I worked with Astro for about three to four months.”
Yvette later returned to the United States after failing to find opportunities in Southeast Asia. She worked as a freelancer, taking on a range of assignments.
Then came the Sept 11 attacks. On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history.
“Soon after, I was informed that ESPN was launching a new morning show. I needed a break from news reporting.
“The reason I left news reporting in the first place was due to numerous school shootings, and then Sept 11 happened.
“I loved my time at ESPN and did everything from booking to field producing. I have been blessed with fantastic bosses throughout my journey, and that makes a whole lot of difference.”
She later joined FOX Business, where she strengthened her knowledge of the economy and finance, before moving to Al Jazeera America, which shut down in 2016.
Yvette described her career as a constant learning curve, crediting her bosses for many of her most memorable and fulfilling experiences.
Her proudest achievement, however, was being Malaysian.
“Being a Malaysian, I was able to understand and easily adapt to different cultures. That made it easy for the bosses to send me to conflict zones and even cover world events like the World Economic Forum in Davos.”
When Al Jazeera America shut down in 2016, Yvette returned home to spend more time with her ageing grandmother.
“I wanted a job that was closer to home. But then I received a job offer to work at the Rio Olympics and to help launch Olympic Channel, the digital platform for the International Olympic Committee, which is based in Madrid.
“I asked if I could go freelance because I wanted to spend more time with family. For three years, I worked in Madrid and remotely from Malaysia.
“It was an amazing experience. For the first time since I was 18, I could spend six months with my grandma and mum in Malaysia.”
In 2019, Yvette moved to Madrid full-time. A year later, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, restricting movement and forcing people indoors.
“I didn’t get to see grandma until 2022. She died soon after, at the age of 96.”
Since then, Yvette has continued exploring the world and meeting athletes, including Malaysian stars who don the national colours at the Summer and Winter Games.
She is now coordinating producer and senior talent booking manager at the Olympic Channel.
“I love working for the Olympic movement. When I left home, there were a few of us Malaysians who went overseas. We used to write airmails to each other.
“Now, with digital communication, I have incredible friends within the Olympic movement and outside. I get to watch and support athletes.”
During her time with the Olympic Channel, Yvette has featured numerous Malaysian stars, including diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg, figure skater Julian Yee Zhi Jie, alpine ski racer Aruwin Salehhuddin and squash player S. Sivasangari.
She has also made it a point to feature athletes from Southeast Asia, giving them a platform on the international stage.
“The National Olympic Committees in all these countries (in Southeast Asia) are putting a tonne of resources into promoting sports. We are also seeing how the athletes are maturing.
“When I first started, Malaysian athletes were generally accompanied by their parents but today they have agents and people advocating for them. Brands are starting to recognise our athletes.”
Having travelled the world and met people of various nationalities, Yvette still holds one favourite Bahasa Melayu word close to her heart: muhibbah (camaraderie).
“We carry this semangat muhibbah. It’s my favourite word. We have been taught to embrace, adapt and live among so many different cultures, religions and languages in Malaysia.
“And that’s a huge asset when you step out of the country.”
She urged young Malaysians to embrace and preserve the spirit of camaraderie and goodwill.
“It is your superpower. You can go anywhere and will almost understand the different cultures. Adapting to different cultures and religions is really a big strength.”
Yvette also urged Malaysians to explore and dream big.
“We can come from Malaysia and go out to this big world and connect with everyone. You should always try (something new). Never let anything hold you back,” she added.
