Para Swimmer Inspires, Imparts Lessons On Coping With Suffering

Lessons From The Champions Series

“I train five hours a day, nine sessions a week. Morning training begins at 5.30 am. So, why do I suffer and keep training? Because I’m getting closer to my goal each day,” said Jakarta-Palembang 2018 Asian Para Games double gold medallist Toh Wei Soong.

“Every morning ask yourself: ‘Is this something I wanna do?’ Then you do it. Every day.”

The para swimmer visited Sports School on 15 April 2019 to share about the “Art of Suffering” as part of the school’s Lessons From The Champions series. Wei Soong inspired the Sports School population with his drive and passion, sharing practical tips on how an athlete can motivate himself daily. He encouraged student-athletes to “go into every meet thinking you want to beat everyone in the competition. You don't go to a meet just wanting to do a personal best.”

To Wei Soong, discipline in all aspects in life is crucial to the attainment of success. “Give yourself the best chance to do your best.” This means eating healthily, sleeping sufficiently, and setting his mobile phone aside by a certain time each night so he gets fitful sleep. He also refrains from using his phone several hours before competition to minimise distractions from the device. 

His humility was evident as he spoke openly of his struggles in juggling his sport commitments with studies as an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme student at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

Unlike at ACSI, Sports School’s athlete-friendly support ensures that student-athletes who travel frequently are up to pace with their peers in school. Timetables and arrangements can be customised to suit the training and competition needs of high-performing student-athletes. Sports School is also the only school in Singapore to offer the Extended IBDP that allows selected student-athletes a longer duration to complete their IB programme, typically three to four years instead of the standard two years.

“All of you are so lucky to be in Singapore Sports School. Thousands of kids want to come to this school. This school helps you make your dreams come true. Sports School is a dream factory.”