KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — National track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang has stressed that his quest to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028) is no longer about seeking redemption for past heartbreaks but rather about sealing his legacy with the best possible closure to his career.

The 38-year-old cyclist, aiming for his sixth Olympic appearance, said he refuses to think too far ahead or burden himself with promises of gold, preferring instead to take things “one step at a time” by focusing on the qualification process first.

Reflecting on the expectations and lessons learned from the Paris 2024 Games, Mohd Azizulhasni said his focus now is purely on giving his career a fitting end on his own terms.

“But I think if you ask me, now the Olympics is about sealing my legacy. My sixth edition, hopefully. And I am seeking the best closure possible, whatever the result,” he told reporters here on Tuesday. 

Elaborating on what prompted him to reverse his retirement, the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games 2026 gold medallist said he felt a sense of unfinished business after being denied the opportunity to showcase his true performance in Paris.

“In Paris, I could not race properly, could not express my true performance. That’s why after I decided to retire, every day I woke up with a sense of unfinished business. That’s why I made a comeback,” he added.

Touching on his preparations following the departure of national head coach John Beasley, Mohd Azizulhasni said that while he has been independently managing his training programmes in Melbourne since his heart surgery, an Olympic campaign cannot be done alone.

“To go to the Olympics, of course you can’t do it alone. I still need a team to back me up,” he said, noting that he is actively meeting potential corporate sponsors to mount a professional campaign by December.

Earlier, Mohd Azizulhasni received about RM180,000 under the National Sports Incentive Scheme (SHAKAM) for his gold-medal achievements at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

While expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council, National Sports Institute and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation, he advised younger riders to always view incentives as external motivation and to prioritise pride and achievements for the nation above all else. — Bernama