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Alexis Morin Wahiddaya.
A name that stretched long and afar, from Jakarta to Singapore, and to Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh.
Born in the Makassar Islands, Alex grew in a place where snow and ice did not exist— at least not naturally. From the salty breezes of Losari Beach, no one would expect a small seaside town boy to grow into a celebrity figure skater.
But, He Did.
December of 2004.
He was 10 when he first stepped onto the sheet of ice.
A mall in Jakarta, a large rink in its center. The sound of laughing children and Christmas music filling the air.
He was hesitant to try. His cousin laughed as he handed him the pair of unfamiliar skates, blades on the bottom.
“Coba, je.” He said.
Alex walked over, and stepped on. He wobbled… he stood… and flew.
His parents stared in disbelief as their son glided forward, tentative at first, then smoother, faster. He turned instinctively, knees bending at an angle, arms extending as though guided by unseen choreography.
“Dia seperti sudah pernah melakukannya sebelumnya…” his mother whispered.
As if he had done so in another life.
— —
What started as weekend visits became structured lessons. His parents saved money.
Indonesia was not, or rather— never known for winter sports. Facilities were limited. Training partners were few.
Alexis was determined.
After school, on the weekends, he’d go to the rinks. Bruises blossomed along his hips and knees. Blisters hardened into calluses. Each fall on the hard white, over and over… but he’d still get back up.
By 14, he was entered into a national competition.
Commentators stumbled over his name at first, but soon they learned it well.
“Alexis Morin Wahiddhya with a clean double salchow—luar biasa!”
By 16, he was entered internationally in a regional tournament.
Thailand.
Malaysia.
Singapore.
He secured podium places, clutching a red-and-white flag behind him as he waved to the cameras meters away.
There was something beyond technique.
Freedom and passion on ice.
A softness in his transitions.
It seems impossible for a tropical nation with limited resources in the ice scene to have such a figure.
Yet, here he was.
— —
September of 2012.
It arrived on an ordinary Tuesday.
A thick envelope. Official seal. Foreign postage.
His father called him from his room.
“Alex!”
”Ya?”
”Ni.” His father handed him the letter, “Surat untukmu.”
Alexis blinked, and took the letter before retreating to his room to read it. Weird, he hadn’t been expecting anything.
The seal held five interlocked rings.
He picked at the hardened wax, and flicked it open.
”Dear Mr. Wahiddaya…”
Alex scanned the paper.
Soon, his hands trembled. His lips stuttered and his eyes soon grew cloudy and blurry.
The 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia will be held soon.
Indonesia was allowed to be entered as a participant in the Winter Games.
The representative for figure skating:
Alexis Morin Wahiddaya.
Signed by none other… than the IOC. The International Olympic Committee.
The world went silent.
Somewhere, a motorcycle passed by.
He stared at it again.
And beamed.
”Ma! Ba!”
“Apa?”
“Saya…!”
He sniffled, tears of joy streaming his face as he clutched the letter in his hands.
“Saya akan pergi ke Olimpiade…!”
Silence.
Then, his mother gasped, her hands covering her mouth
His father’s eyes widened before it filled with tears.
”Alhamdulillah…” He whispered.
Alexis embraced him tight, sobbing in joy.
From a small seaside boy.
To a national icon.
To a regionwide celebrity…
And to the global audience, as one of the elite.
He’s made it.