W

ith his individualist appearance and great sense of humor, Franklin Ramses Burumi, the talented young athlete who has contributed three gold medals for Indonesia in track and field at the 26th Southeast Asian Games comes across as a typical Papuan.

“My hard work, discipline and high dreams and with most of all help from God, have brought me here. I did not waste a chance,” the Games debutant told reporters on the sidelines of track heats at Jakabaring Sports Complex in Palembang, South Sumatra, recently.

Franklin nailed golds in the men’s 100-meter with 10.37 seconds, 200-m with 20.93 and as a member of the 4x100-m team.

Before reaping such magnificent results in the Games it is worth noting that the Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) had previously downgraded the 20-year-old in the national training camp.

“I was ousted from the national camp for three months because I really did badly during the Asian championships in Daegu, China,” said Franklin.

Franklin’s terrible performance was possibly due to his enjoying a rather full nightlife.

The son of father Max Burumi and Dolli Warusi admits that he was once a “bad kid” but managed to turn himself around.

“After the downgrade, I decided to join a camp in Surabaya, East Java, under coach Henny Maspaitella,” said Franklin.

“After the Surabaya camp, I showed my true abilities to PASI officials and they welcomed me back to the national camp in October,” added the lad from Serui.

Franklin praised the training program in Surabaya, adding that he was able improve his self-discipline during the camp. “I don’t know, I just felt I wanted to be more disciplined and did not want to skip a single program in the camp.”

During the Surabaya camp and Jakarta-based national training camp, Franklin did not take any overseas tryout sessions.

“PASI officials considered me as the underdog, but now I have proved to them what I’ve got with these golds. Although my time was just 10.37 seconds in the sprint, I’m still really grateful,” said the fan of actor Jason Statham and deceased Indonesian singer Broery Marantika.

Franklin said that he would need two years tops to match compatriot Suryo Agung Wibowo, the fastest man in Southeast Asia who recorded 10.17 in the Laos Games in 2009. Suryo did not join the Indonesian squad in the 26th Games due to his haj pilgrimage.

“My short-term goal is to get a better time in 100-m and below 20 seconds in 200-m. Meanwhile as a long-term goal, I really want to raise my level, hopefully I can make nine seconds in the sprint,” said Franklin.

His laudable achievements in the Games have also brought some relief for Papua, which is currently experiencing security troubles.

“Papuan youngsters must show what they’ve got. We really can achieve so much,” Franklin said.