Josiah Ng Onn Lam is a retired Malaysian professional track cyclist. Josiah was the first Malaysian to make it into the cycling Olympic finals becoming a three-time Olympian, representing Malaysia at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. In 2004 he was awarded the Malaysian Olympian and Sportsman of the Year after being the 1st Malaysian cyclist to make a final in cycling at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2010 Josiah won gold at the Commonwealth Games, New Delhi in Keirin at age 30. He is known to have put Malaysia on the map as one of the best countries for developing world-class track cyclists. In 2008, he became the first non-Australian to win the 72nd Melbourne Cup on Wheels at the Melbourne Arena.
Early life
Josiah had loved cycling since the young age of five years old, as it represented freedom for him. At age 14, he eventually realised his dreams and bought a used racing bike for US$250. He entered his first criterium racing at age 15. Josiah comes from a very traditional Chinese family and didn't get the support of his parents in his chosen career path. He would often sneak out of the house when they had gone to sleep to walk to where his bike was stored 4 km away. At age 18, his father asked him to leave home and wished him luck with his endeavours. He survived by taking on odd jobs where he could, including teaching violin. At age 20 he represented Malaysia for the first time at the Asian Championships in Shanghai.
Cycling career
In 2002, Josiah applied for an IOC scholarship to train at the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland under world-renowned coach, Fred Magne. In 2008, he became the first non-Australian to win the Melbourne Cup on Wheels at the Melbourne Arena. Ng took the lead with two laps to go in the eight-lap event, clutching his win Australia's dual Olympic gold medallist Graeme Brown, who finished second in the 2000m handicap event. After his cycling career, in February 2016, Josiah endorsed Malaysian fitness app ‘Fitness In My Pocket.’ Following a social media uproar about a RM10 mock cheque prize for a local Malaysian cycling event for children, Josiah chimed in about his entire journey that there is more to cycling competitively than winning prize money.
Retirement
In 2015 Josiah retired from competition at age 35 announcing at the 2014 UCI Track Cycling Asian Championships in Korat, Thailand that the 2015 World Championships would be his last outing in the sport. Josiah's last race was at the World Track Cycling Championships in Paris in February 2015.
Accidents
Four months before he was due to compete at the Athens Olympics 2004, Josiah endured a crash in which he broke his wrist, teeth, nose and lost a lot of blood. He was in the intensive care unit for several days. On 30 March 2007, Josiah broke his collarbone in a nasty crash in the first round of the Keirin event at the World Track Cycling Championships in Mallorca Spain. He was stretchered off the piste and taken to the hospital immediately and was ruled out of the competition after Italian Roberto Chiappa cut into his path and knocked him down. During the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Mexico Dec 2013 Josiah endured another severe crash in which suffered a punctured lung, broken collarbone, 2 broken ribs and a concussion.
Nominee of "Most Outstanding Youth of the Year 2007" AYA Awards
Sponsors
Josiah's sponsors were National Sports Council of Malaysia, , Nike, Euro-Asia Imports, Oakley and RBC Sport. In 2006, Josiah signed a sponsorship deal with FedEx Express. In 2008, after much exposure from the FedEx sponsorship, Josiah was approached by Nike and was subsequently featured on the Damansara Heights billboard for a month during Beijing Olympics 2008. In that same year also, Josiah was featured in a media advertorial that saw him endorsing the advantages of using Nivea for men.
