Essay: The First and Second Indonesia’s Gold in Olympic

Olympic is the biggest sport event in the world. Olympic for the first time was held in Athens, Greece, 1896. Indonesia had been competing in Olympic since 1952, but Indonesia had never won a gold medal until 1988. Although in Seoul 1988 Indonesia won a silver medal from archery. One of the reasons is before 1992, Badminton was not added to Olympic Events. Badminton is the most superior sports in Indonesia. A lot of badminton’s athletes from Indonesia won an international badminton tournament, such All England, Thomas and Uber Cup, and many more. But, they couldn’t join the Olympic.

Indonesia in 2016 Rio Olympics
Source: en.tempo.co

The 1992 Barcelona Olympic is the most historical sport events for Indonesia because in this Olympic, Indonesia won first and second gold medal. These medal came from Badminton. Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma successful carried a sound of the Indonesia’s National Athem in Barcelona. Indonesia made the first country in Southeast Asian to won a gold medal in Olympic.

Susi Susanti is the greatest Indonesia’s female badminton players, winning the All-England in 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994, the World Badminton Grand Prix Finale five times consecutively from 1990 to 1994 as well as in 1996, and the IBF World Championships in 1993. She is the only female player to hold the Olympic, World Championship, and All-England singles titles together in 1993. She also won the Japan Open four times, Indonesian Open six times, Malaysian Open five times, Thailand Open four times, and many more. She was seed number one when came to 1992 Barcelona Olympic. From the first round, Susi Susanti played confidently. In the gold medal match, Susi Susanti beat South Korea’s badminton player, Bang Soo Hyun, 5-11, 11-5, and 11-3.

Susi Susanti in the gold medal match
Source: www.youtube.com

As well as Alan Budikusuma. He won Thailand Open in 1989 and 1991, China Open in 1991, German Open in 1992, Indonesian Open in 1993, World Cup in 1993, and Malaysian Open in 1995. Although he was seed number three when came to 1992 Barcelona Olympic, he successfully advanced to the final round. He beat fellow countryman, Ardy B. Wiranata, 15-12, 18-13 to won the second gold medal for Indonesia.

In The 1992 Barcelona Olympic, Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma was a couple. They are called “Pengantin Olimpiade” (Olympic’s Couple). Susi Susanti said she support Alan Budikusuma when the gold medal match although there was an All Indonesian Final. They married in 1997.

Alan Budikusuma and Susi Susanti
Source: www.goodnewsfromindonesia.org

The 1992 Barcelona Olympic show a rising sporting achievement for Indonesia, especially in Badminton. Besides the two gold medals, Indonesia also won 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal. All of the medals came from Badminton. 2 silver medals came from Ardy B. Wiranata and Eddy Hartono/Rudy Gunawan. 1 bronze medal came from Hermawan Susanto. Since then, badminton had become the flagship sport for Indonesia to win medals.

Until 2016, Indonesia have won a total of 30 medals, 19 from badminton (7 gold medals, 6 silver medals, and 6 bronze medals), 10 from weightlifting (5 silver medals and 5 bronze medals), and 1 bronze medal from archery.