Gen Y Speaks: I am a triathlete with big dreams, but can I succeed in Singapore?

I am not Joseph Schooling nor Ronald Susilo. I am a 17-year-old triathlete trying to dream big in Singapore’s paper-chase society. Last year was an important test, as I had to juggle training with preparations for my GCE “O” Levels. 

So far, I have taken part in two local races, the 2018 Metasprint Aquathlon and the 2019 Metasprint Triathlon. I competed in the open category, competing against others from various countries, finishing 8th and 11th respectively. 

Despite being a novice with no medal in my hands (yet), my aspiration is to not only eventually compete in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii — the world’s most prestigious triathlon race — but to finish among the top three, making Singapore proud.

Every day, I wake up at 4am to train with a coach, because it would be impossible to do so after school. Not with co-curricular activity commitments, supplementary classes and homework.

It is an understatement to say I constantly feel overwhelmed.

While tough, this is a route I have chosen. Diagnosed with asthma when I was nine, my father introduced me to this sport as a motivation to battle the condition and I have not looked back since.

My middle-income family has been supportive. My father helps to pace my runs, cycles alongside me and sponsors my training needs. Even my grandmother plans my meals around my training.

Juggling training and studies isn’t without its challenges. Battling the "zzz monster" at 3pm classes is a daily affair. It’s also not uncommon for me to fall sick after cycling in the blazing hot sun.

And of course, I have no social life to speak of. While my schoolmates are out enjoying the latest Marvel movie, I would be training hard.

I remember during the “O” Levels, my Chemistry teacher warned me that if she saw me training, I would “get it” from her. My mother also occasionally points out that I spend more time cycling than studying. While I understand they mean well, I wonder if I can ever have my cake and eat it in Singapore.

Or will I be like Singapore’s best-known soccer star Fandi Ahmad, who has only a Singapore Vocational Institute National Trade Certificate 3, an equivalent of an Institute of Technical Education certificate now?

The irony is that my body has become so accustomed to this rigorous regime that I would be at a loss if I stopped. I did take a break from the sport in Secondary 3, when I felt jaded and thought I would be better off focusing on my studies.

While I was less tired, had more free time for myself, I ended up spending it on gaming. I could not focus on my studies and felt more lethargic than ever. The result? I almost failed my examinations. 

I realised that while my triathlon training may make me physically tired, it frees up my mind to focus on the important stuff, that is, my morning lessons and revisions.

So what do I hope for now?

I wish there were more specialised post-primary and secondary institutions for young sporting aspirants like myself.

We currently only have the Singapore Sports School (SSP) for post-primary school sports studies. Currently, only 400-odd student-athletes are enrolled in SSP. Considering the yearly student cohort size of about 40,000, I feel that the intake at SSP is insufficient and more institutions are needed. 

I also wish the Spex Education Scheme for student athletes could be open to everyone besides national athletes representing Singapore. 

The Spex scheme is a customised scheme for elite athletes to help them cope effectively with the dual demands of sports and their education or career. This includes the adjustment of timetables and examinations, educational counselling and scholarship application assistance.

Currently, it helps only the cream of the crop, not those that are still in the preparation phase of their sporting career, like me. It would be a dream come true if I could have the same privileges.

That could just be my wishful thinking. However, as we are slowly but surely removing ourselves from a result-centric academic system, hopefully, a change could come soon enough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Crispin Hu is a junior college student who has been a keen triathlete since he was 13.