Sorn Seavmey: My life as Cambodia’s golden girl

In 2014, teenager Sorn Seavmey made sporting history for Cambodia, becoming the first athlete from her nation to win gold at an Asian Games. Now, the taekwondo athlete is part of another history-making moment as her home nation hosts the Southeast Asian Games for the first time.

Sorn has topped the rankings three times at the Games – in 2013, 2017 and 2019 – but if she does it again, the fourth time would be extra special as she’ll have the privilege of competing in front of her home fans.

The now 27-year-old wants to repeat the experience of standing on the top of the podium, something she relished at the 2014 Games in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

“It was very exciting to get on the podium to get the gold and even more exciting when our national song was played and all 45 countries got up to respect Cambodia,” Sorn told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview in 2021.

The then 19-year-old arrived home to a spectacular welcome, greeted by dignitaries, family, friends and even training partners.

Sorn Seavmey on using her platform for good

The spotlight enabled Sorn to facilitate her increased profile to encourage young Cambodians to get involved in sport, citing keeping active as being good not only for wellbeing but also for the development of the sports sector in the Kingdom.

“Aside from being fun, sports activities are good for the health,” said the Rio 2016 competitor at an Olympic Day celebration at the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia headquarters in Phnom Penh.

Additional young people in sport creates more national athletes that can compete for Cambodia abroad, she continued: “You will be part, and will contribute to, the development of Cambodian sports.”

Sorn has shown it is possible, despite a difficult start in life – losing her father at a young age. Brought up by her mother, who worked in a garment shop, Sorn initially took up the same role before begrudgingly taking up taekwondo.

Sorn progressed to become an Olympic Solidarity scholarship recipient and from there, after making history at the Asian Games, became the country’s first-ever athlete to qualify outright for the Olympic Games after winning gold at the 2016 Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament. Carrying Cambodia's flag at the Opening Ceremony in Brazil was an additional honour to competing for her nation on the biggest stage of all.

Through her own merit and with her beloved nation playing host to such a prestigious event for the first time, sport's progression in Cambodia is being lead by their very own golden girl.

• The taekwondo competition at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games starts on Friday 12 May.