Mona Sulaiman

Mona Sulaiman (9 June 1942 – 21 December 2017) was a Filipina sprinter who competed at the Asian Games and the Summer Olympics.

Mona Sulaiman
Personal information
NationalityFilipino
Born(1942-06-09)9 June 1942
Cotabato, Philippine Commonwealth
Died21 December 2017(2017-12-21) (aged 75)
Manila, Philippines
Sport
SportSprinting
Event(s)100 metres
Medal record
Women's Athletics
Representing  Philippines
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1962 Jakarta 100m
Gold medal – first place 1962 Jakarta 200m
Gold medal – first place 1962 Jakarta 4 × 100m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1962 Jakarta Shot put

Early life

Mona Sulaiman was born in a barrio in Cotabato on 9 June 1942 to Kudelat and Aminan Sulaiman, who were Muslims.[1]

Career

Sulaiman started her career competing in regional meets. She competed at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta where she won gold medals in the 100 and 200 metre sprints and relay events.[2] She also garnered a bronze medal in the shot put event at the same tournament.[3]

She competed at the Summer Olympics in the 100 metres event at the 1960 and the 1964 editions.[4]

Sulaiman also excelled in the disciplines of pentathlon and discus throw.[2]

Post-retirement

Sulaiman qualified for the 1966 Asian Games but opted not to participate reportedly for refusing to undergo a gender test. Her physique and speed made some people question her gender. She retired from competitive play and worked in the private sector until the 1990s when she was hired by the Philippine Sports Commission to serve as a consultant for the national athletics team. Sulaiman was inducted into the PSC Hall of Fame in January 2016.[2]

Health and death

In October 2016, Sulaiman was reportedly confined to a wheelchair.[2] She died in Manila on 21 December 2017. She was 75.[5]

Legacy

Solaiman and bowler Bong Coo share the Asian Games record for the most gold medals won by a Filipino athlete - male or female - in a single edition.[6] In the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, she won three gold medals (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and 4100 meter relay). Solaiman was among the second group of Filipino sports legends inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame on January 25, 2016 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.[7]

References
  1. "Mona Sulaiman". The Freeman. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  2. Reyes, Marc Anthony (23 October 2016). "Remember Mona Sulaiman?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  3. "PH Track and Field Stars". Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  4. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mona Sulaiman Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  5. "Mona Sulaiman, Asia's fastest woman of early '60s, dies at 75". Rappler. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  6. "Gold sweep in Indonesia part of long history of Pinay power at Asian Games". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  7. REUBEN TERRADO. "Eugene Torre, Sulaiman, Ampon lead 17 new inductees to PH Sports Hall of Fame". spin.ph Sports Life. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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