Armin spends as much time on water as on land

JAKARTA (JP): Growing up in a fishing neighborhood, Armin, the single kayak 1,000 meters gold medal winner, spent as much time on the water as on land.

"I knew how to row a boat before I was nine years old," he said with his trademark shy smile. "And I am the only one of 12 children who is not a fisherman."

Armin, a son of Andi Masse and Fukuna, was born on Oct. 15, 1972 in Labean, near Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, an area where his family has lived for generations.

The usually reclusive Armin gave up his education after leaving primary school in 1984. "I gave up my education because I had younger brothers who had to be supported by my parents."

But he had no idea what he wanted to do. Unlike most children, who have ideals from early in life, Armin had few experiences on which to draw.

"I only ever knew about fishing or selling fish as ways of earning money. I thought that's all I could do. I certainly didn't want a clerical job. And even now I know that I am not good at that," he said.

With sweat and the Jatiluhur reservoir water still dripping from his face and body, he answered all the questions fired at him but could not understand why people were paying him so much attention.

He said modestly: "What should I tell you, I don't have any interesting stories about myself."

Armin's life changed for ever when a friend, Salman, who was already a local kayaker, introduced him to the sport in 1991.

Salman was also responsible for Armin tasting competition on a larger stage when he submitted his shy friend's name to the national games committee in 1993.

Even though he failed on that occasion, Armin was recruited to the national training center and went to the Chiang Mai SEA Games in 1995 as part of the Dragon boat team and won a gold medal.

His life on the seashore however, has left an indelible mark on the dark-skinned Armin's life.

He rarely stops reminiscing about his days in Palu and his face lights up when he is asked to recall his homelife.

"If I get days off from the training center and a chance to go home, I still help my family take our boats out to sea and go fishing," he said.

And he spends his holidays in his hometown, going round visiting all his relations.

Armin only clammed up when the conversation turned to affairs of the heart. He admitted that the Hanoman doll he was given in the medal ceremony would be passed on to "someone special" but he declined to elaborate any further.

"She made me win this," was all he would say when pressed about his girlfriend.

Some of Armin's teammates who escorted Armin to the doping centerand later to the host's base camp revealed that the seem ingly unflappable kayaker was very nervous in the run-up to the race.

"Last night he seemed stunned and kept silent in his room till it was time to get up," Teguh, from the dragon boat team said. Armin responded by only giving what is clearly his trademark shy smile. (04)