With prize money exceeding 20 million baht coupled with the brand new title of Sports and Tourism Ambassador bestowed on her for clinching the coveted gold medal in taekwondo at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which wrapped earlier this month, Panipak "Tennis" Wongpattanakit attributes her Olympic success to the unwavering dedication of her father Sirichai, who raised her after the death of her mother when she was seven.
The 24-year-old, who has two older siblings, captured a podium finish in the 49kg division, giving Thailand its only gold at the Games which were postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Five years after settling for bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, the taekwondo expert put much-needed smiles on the faces of Thais with her impressive win.
In a candid phone interview from her home in Surat Thani, she said: "I didn't believe I could have reached this far in taekwondo if it wasn't for dad's perseverance to see me through the numerous challenges that we faced together before I was able to qualify and eventually win an Olympic gold medal.
"The first thing I want to do with part of my prize earnings is to buy a house for him. He has sacrificed much for me and my siblings, and this is the least I can do to demonstrate my love and appreciation for him. As a public servant, he didn't make much money, however, he did everything in his power to see that each of his children received a good education and were given a shot at excelling in a sport of their choice."
Panipak, who comes across as a well-rounded athlete with a goofy prankster side to her that makes her endearing to people who meet her, said she was blessed to have had a memorable childhood.
Despite having lost her mother to cancer when she was in first grade, her father, older brother and sister, and other relatives gave her a lot of love and support to make her realise that she was cherished and loved unconditionally. She said this helped develop her confidence and tenacity to face obstacles with a rational level-headed mindset.
Her passion for sports was inevitable, both her parents played several disciplines at the provincial level. Each of their three children has nicknames after a sport. Being the youngest, she went to various sports stadiums to watch her father and siblings compete.
While her two older siblings did not make it to the national team, it was Panipak that got to wear the coveted Thailand jersey for the taekwondo team, over a decade ago.
Once again, it was her father who guided her every step of the way.
"My dad's role was always as a facilitator, he never pressured me into anything, but rather supported me in what I felt most comfortable in pursuing. After trying my hand at a handful of sports, I settled for taekwondo, which my elder brother played for a while and was very good at.
"My dad never cajoled me, he always gave me the pros and cons of opportunities and decisions that came my way. When it came to competing, he always encouraged me to give it my best, and not get overwhelmed by having to produce results. Of course, winning would put a smile on his face, which means the world to me," said the Olympian, whose future goal after retirement is to build a taekwondo coaching academy. The 2024 Paris Olympics is likely to be her last major event with the national squad.
Her father Sirichai might have brought home the paltry salary of a civil servant, but she said he never complained. Growing up she never felt a sense of lack, be it financial or emotional.
Panipak said that when her mother was hospitalised with lung cancer for over a year before she passed away, she lived with her at the hospital. Whatever recollections she has of her are about the good times the family had travelling to different sporting competitions where her siblings, a sister nicknamed Bowling, who is 15 years older than her, and a brother named Bas who is 11 years her senior, took part.
The age gap between both her siblings also worked to her advantage.
"My siblings have had a tremendous impact on my character. My older sister, who did very weF
"My brother on the other hand directed and offered his guidance when it came to choosing the sport which would best suit my physique and personality. As he played taekwondo, it was only a matter of time that I got involved."
Taekwondo gold medalist Panipak Wongpattanakit with her father Sirichai. (Photo courtesy of Sirichai Wongpattanakit Facebook)
Panipak said winning at the Olympics was a tribute to her elder brother, who taught her the ropes of becoming the best in her choice of sports.
"My brother has played many sports and found his calling in taekwondo. He worked really hard and won the Thailand Championships, however, when he tried out for the national team, he did not make it. For me to win the gold medal in a sport that he was once very passionate about holds a special place in his heart. It is as if I made the dream he once had for himself come true."
Panipak said her road to capturing Olympic glory was far from a smooth one. Even though numerous times she encountered "heartbreak", she said the burning desire to hear the Thai national anthem sung at the Olympics turned out to become a collective family endeavour.
She said the support of her family always lifted her spirits, making her resolve to succeed at the Tokyo Olympics, which was emotionally unsettling at first because her father wasn't accompanying her due to pandemic regulations.
"The events were held without spectators, so my father stayed back. A video chat with him just before the competitions got me emotionally ready to give it my all. Speaking with my dad really soothes me down. During our pep talk, he just told me to focus and do my best. And I did just that. It was a wonderful moment when I won the gold for my country and family."
In retrospect, Panipak's ability to last 17 years in a physically and emotionally demanding sport such as taekwondo has been due to tough nerves that were developed during her childhood.
Finding a role model in her father laid the foundation she required to pursue her dreams.
"I saw the hard work he put into competing in his younger days and followed him wherever he went. I know how it feels to cycle for hours on end, in rain and sunshine. My father never allowed any situation to come in his way of completing a mission. Before becoming a national athlete, he used to drive me to competitions around the country. There was once a time that we had an accident while travelling to an event. However, we were not really hurt and so both of us took the bus to the sporting venue like nothing really happened.
"I did not win a medal on that occasion but the lesson I learned was that we should never allow hurdles in life to slow us down in our efforts to reach our purpose in life. When a situation hits rock bottom it can only get better… life has taught me that."
