Nothing says you’re a star in your field more than having your own place in a worldwide collection of the most noteworthy and famous personalities. Having carved his name into the international sporting arena, badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei graces Singaporeans with his presence as Madame Tussauds Singapore unveils his very own wax figure, here on a limited-time display, before heading to its permanent home in Hong Kong.
While having your own wax figure sculpted is exciting news – and a clear symbol of your stellar status, of course – getting immortalised in a wax museum is no easy feat. Finally here since its announcement in 2020, the former World No. 1 badminton athlete recalls he had to go through over 6 hours of meticulous measurements within a session for the team from Madame Tussauds to retrieve the data they need to present us with a replica of the icon.
The first ever athlete from Malaysia to enter the halls of Madame Tussauds, Lee Chong Wei’s figure will star alongside other top athletes, including legendary footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
For fans of the sport and the man himself, you’ll not want to miss out on a visit – the figure dons the official jersey worn by Lee at his final Olympics performance in Rio 2016, donated by the man himself, making the figure that much more special.
When asked about his thoughts on having his wax figure in Madame Tussauds Singapore, Lee humbly expressed his initial excitement and disbelief, and is proud to be able to represent his country.
Was there a chance that he’d have considered a different path if we went back in time? “For most athletes, especially myself, I think when we’ve decided on the sport and the path we want to embark on, we become fully dedicated to achieving the results we aim for. To be on the world stage, we can only keep pushing for higher ground and not allow ourselves to waver. In that sense, thoughts of a different path never actually surfaced.”
Head over now to get up close with Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s figure. Find out more on Madame Tussauds Singapore’s website here.
