Elaine Teo Shueh Fhern (born 5 February 1981) is a Malaysian Taekwondo exponent. She is a holder of a 4th dan Taekwondo Black Belt from Korea and 5th dan Malaysia. She has represented Malaysia from 1999-2011 in various international tournaments. Her experience as a professional Taekwondo exponent has placed her on the pedestal of honour nationally and internationally. One of her most memorable experience was being the first Taekwondo exponent in Malaysia to qualify twice for the Olympic Games (2004 & 2008).

Elaine Teo
Personal information
Full nameElaine Teo Shueh Fhern
Nationality Malaysia
Born (1981-02-05) 5 February 1981 (age 43)
Malacca, Malaysia
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight53 kg (117 lb)
Sport
SportTaekwondo
Event(s)48 kg, 57 kg
ClubTraditional Taekwondo Sports Centre
Medal record
Women's Taekwondo
Representing  Malaysia
Universiade
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Daegu 55 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Izmir 51 kg
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1999 Brunei 55 kg
Gold medal – first place 2001 Kuala Lumpur 55 kg
Gold medal – first place 2007 Bangkok 51 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Vientiane 49 kg

She made her official debut for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where she competed in the women's flyweight category (49 kg). She lost the first preliminary match to Guatemala's Euda Carías by a superiority decision from the judges, with a score of 4–4.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Teo qualified this time for the featherweight category (57 kg), because of an error in her entry form for the Asian Qualifiers. She lost the first preliminary match to Turkey's Azize Tanrıkulu, with a score of 4–7. Because Tanrıkulu advanced further into the final match against Lim Su-Jeong of South Korea, Teo offered another shot for a bronze medal triumph through the repechage bout, where she was eventually defeated by a tall American Taekwondo exponent Diana López, who was able to score only three points at the end of the match.

Teo also made her bid to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London; however, she was forced into a premature retirement after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee at the Asian Olympic Taekwondo Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand at year 2011. For her contribution towards the development of Taekwondo internationally, Taekwondo Malaysia (TM/WTF) awarded Teo a "Commendation on Outstanding Contribution to Taekwondo.

Apart from her sports achievements, she is also the only Taekwondo athlete to have won the "2004 National Sportswoman of the year" by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth & Sports.[1]

Furthermore, she was three time SEA Games Gold medalist in 1999, 2001 and 2007.[2] She was the first athlete who won medal at Universiade Games in 2003. After that, once again she won a bronze medalists at 2005 World Universiade Games, Korea. Universiade.

She has a bachelor's degree holder of business administration.[3] at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Selangor.[1][3][4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lim, Teik Huat (4 January 2012). "Injury scuppers Elaine's Olympic dreams and may force her to retire". The Star Online (Malaysia). Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Elaine Teo". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Elaine Teo opening a taekwondo training centre at TTDI Plaza Damansara". Martial Arts Community (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  4. ^ Lim, Teik Huat (21 May 2008). "Taekwondo: Chew Chan believes she can beat the odds in Beijing". The Star Online (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Women's 57kg (126 lbs) Repechage". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
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