Olympian gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi is a force of nature.

She’s fearless, confident, compassionate and alluring. As a former artistic gymnast, Farah Ann poured her heart into the sport for 25 years, achieving many feats, including winning multiple SEA Games medals, representing Malaysia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond. While she may have bid goodbye to stepping foot onto the competition floor, her discipline and awareness have shaped her life to this day. Without a doubt, the muscle memory of a career built around precision and risk has sharpened her appreciation for safety.

Here’s how Farah Ann weaves the Volvo EX30 with her daily life:

For two decades, Farah Ann lived in a world where taking risks was constant. A beam only 10 centimetres wide. A vault that demanded blind trust. Every triumph she achieved as a gymnast was layered on an unspoken foundation: safety, preparation and a sense of seeking protection.

Today, a new philosophy rises with the star in a new arena—far from the mat and closer to the everyday lives of Malaysians—through her bond with Volvo, a brand that’s built on its dedication to safety.

Farah Ann’s relationship with vulnerability has evolved. While she no longer spends her days performing complex routines, she grasps the consequences of underestimating danger. That instinct has now changed her perspective, as she assesses every movement, anticipates every variable and trusts the structures designed to protect her. With the Volvo EX30, she’s able to realise her philosophy to its fullest potential. While the brand has been at the forefront of automotive safety, the EX30 has convinced the athlete through thresholds.

“I think with women. We’re a little more cautious because in the back of our minds, we’re protectors. We want to make sure that whoever is with us, even as drivers, is protected by keeping everyone in the car safe. We’re a little more cautious and less aggressive on the road. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not afraid to be on the road, we want to safely reach our destination,” Farah expressed.

Thanks to the EX30, her reassurance on safety is handled with care when she’s behind the wheel. Whether it’s through the collision avoidance systems, driver alert system (which identifies the driver’s eye and head movements if they’re drowsy or distracted), door opening alert and pilot assist, the vehicle does more than protection; it becomes your trusty companion.

It’s a mindset Farah Ann relates to. This new journey brings a different set of responsibilities. She is not only a mentor and a role model to many aspiring gymnasts, but she’s also a voice for the younger athletes. She was also recently appointed as the Chef de Mission for Malaysia at the 2025 Asian Youth Games.

The most important lesson she has learned all these years? It’s to nurture for your own safety and the safety of those around you. “During my time at the Volvo 101 Car Challenge, I can say that the EX30 brings me comfort and reassurance that it will provide protection when needed, especially when swerving and braking during emergencies.”

To her disbelief, being assigned to the EX30 was like a match made in heaven. In a candid moment, she revealed that her parents had recently purchased the very same model just a few months back. However, participating in the #MyVolvoVibe escapade offered her a fresh perspective, allowing her to see the car in a whole new light. It’s fascinating how experiences can redefine our perceptions.

Volvo’s ethos has always been inspiring yet straightforward: to protect the people inside the car and those around it. In this case, Farah Ann’s career embodied the same principle. Finding balance may not be relying on a beam, but it’s seen through the choices she makes. And it was in that moment that she realised that the bridge she found in herself and in Volvo was just as meaningful as the safety of her journey through every drive.

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Discover the Volvo EX30 on www.volvocars.com/my/