Paroi: Eighteen, fearless and undaunted: Tuaran-born sprint sensation Ivan Jovic Suan announced his arrival on the regional stage in emphatic fashion by winning three gold medals on his debut at the ASEAN Para Games (APG) Thailand 2025, including two victories over his Malaysian Paralympic-medallist idol.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ivan stunned the field with victories over fellow Malaysian and Paris Paralympics medallist Eddy Bernard in both the 100m T44 and 200m T44 events, a feat few had anticipated given his past struggles against the experienced sprinter, and went on to claim the 400m T44/T63 title.

The highlight of his campaign came in the 200m T44 final, where Ivan delivered a sensational run to shatter the Games record with a time of 24.25 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 26.40s set by Indonesia's Ryan Arda Diarta at the Cambodia 2023 edition.

Ivan expressed his surprise and gratitude, saying, "I never expected to win three gold medals. Training last year while studying was really hard. I had to wake up at 4 am, jog two kilometres, go to school and train again. Sometimes I only got five hours of sleep a day."

Reflecting on his victory over his idol, Ivan shared, "And to be able to win against my own idol, Eddy-I was really confused because I had lost to him every single time since we first met at Para SUKMA in 2022."

The exchange after the race was equally significant for Ivan, who described the words of encouragement from Eddy as both motivating and reassuring. "He told me, 'Masih boleh lagi ni, jauh lagi perjalanan' (You still have a long journey ahead)," Ivan recounted.

Despite the growing attention and rising expectations, Ivan remains focused on future goals, particularly breaking the world record in the 100m. With determination, he declared, "I'm going to destroy your dream to make mine a reality. Get ready for that."

Behind Ivan's success is a supportive family, particularly his mother, Josephen Maria, who recounted how doctors initially said Ivan might have difficulty walking due to a physical impairment in his left leg. However, as he grew older, his talent became evident.

Josephen remarked on Ivan's preference to train in Sabah, stating, "If training at home has brought him this far, why not continue supporting him in Sabah for now?" She emphasized the family's commitment to his nurturing and development, open to future opportunities as needed.