In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 5 January 1988
- Birthplace
- Dungun, Terengganu
- Country
- Malaysia
- Nationality
- Malaysian
- Known for
- Olympic medals and a world title in keirin
- Sport
- Track cycling
- Disciplines
- Keirin and sprint
- Olympic medals
- Bronze · Rio 2016; Silver · Tokyo 2020
- World title
- Keirin · 2017
Why this life matters
Awang’s medals widened Malaysia’s Olympic story beyond its traditional racket and diving strengths and created a national audience for elite track cycling.
Timeline
Key moments
Born in Dungun
Born in Terengganu and began cycling competitively as a teenager.
Made his Olympic debut
Represented Malaysia in track cycling at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Reached a world championship podium
Announced himself among the leading international sprint riders at age 21.
Won Olympic bronze
Finished third in the Rio keirin, becoming Malaysia’s first Olympic medallist in cycling.
Became world champion
Won the men’s keirin in Hong Kong and Malaysia’s first track-cycling rainbow jersey.
Won Olympic silver
Improved on his Rio result with second place in the Tokyo 2020 keirin final.
Competed at a fifth Olympics
Returned for Paris 2024, extending one of Malaysia’s longest elite Olympic careers.
Won at the UCI Track World Cup
Beat a world-class keirin field in Nilai as he continued competing toward the LA28 cycle.
From Dungun to the velodrome
Azizulhasni Awang was born in Dungun, Terengganu, in 1988. He progressed from local racing into Malaysia’s national track programme and later trained in Australia, where access to elite coaching and competition helped shape him into an international sprinter.
His compact build and willingness to attack in crowded races contributed to the nickname “Pocket Rocketman.” More importantly, he became a repeat contender in keirin, an event that demands positioning, acceleration and tactical judgment at high speed.
Malaysia’s first Olympic cycling medal
Awang made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 and returned at London 2012. At Rio 2016 he finished third in the men’s keirin, earning Malaysia’s first Olympic cycling medal.
The bronze changed the country’s medal map. Track cycling required specialised facilities, technology and a development system unfamiliar to much of the Malaysian public; Awang’s result made those investments visible through a single podium moment.
World champion and Tokyo silver
In 2017, Awang won the keirin at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Hong Kong. The victory delivered the first elite track-cycling rainbow jersey in Malaysian history.
At the Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021, he finished second to Jason Kenny in the keirin. Silver improved on his Rio result and confirmed his ability to remain competitive across successive Olympic cycles.
Longevity and the LA28 horizon
Awang competed at Paris 2024, his fifth Olympic Games. In 2026 he remained active internationally and won the men’s keirin at the UCI Track World Cup round in Nilai, Malaysia.
Malaysian sports authorities subsequently included him in the national Olympic pathway toward Los Angeles 2028. Whether or not that produces a sixth Games appearance, his career has already changed the expectations surrounding Malaysian track cycling.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Azizulhasni Awang
- Who is Azizulhasni Awang?
- Azizulhasni Awang is a track cyclist and two-time Olympic medallist. Awang’s medals widened Malaysia’s Olympic story beyond its traditional racket and diving strengths and created a national audience for elite track cycling.
- What is Azizulhasni Awang best known for?
- Azizulhasni Awang is best known for olympic medals and a world title in keirin.
- When and where was Azizulhasni Awang born?
- Azizulhasni Awang was born on 5 January 1988 in Dungun, Terengganu.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 31 August 2026.
- Union Cycliste InternationaleRio track programme concludes with keirin bronze
- Union Cycliste InternationaleMalaysia’s first rainbow jersey
- Union Cycliste Internationale2026 UCI Track World Cup: China strongest in final round
- BernamaAzizulhasni in Olympic pathway for LA28
- Wikimedia CommonsAzizulhasni Awang — image and licence record
