Right now I am in Switzerland for the summer doing an internship at a hospital within the neurology department. As for the bigger picture, I am just about to start my junior year at a university called Bowdoin in Maine, US.
What years were you part of 26?
I am not entirely sure what the exact years are, but I think I started in Year 4 or 5 of primary school, and continued all the way until Year 13, my final year of high school in Hong Kong. I think I was with 26 for about 8 or 9 years but don’t quote me on this!
Which was your favourite 26 session and why?
My favorite 26 sessions were the open water sessions on Saturday right after the Redhill Brick session. You’d always be absolutely drenched with sweat after Redhill so it was super refreshing to be in the water. I also just loved open water swimming with the team. I distinctly remember a Saturday open water session where we swam around Middle Island. I think there must have been like 100 jelly fish. I was practically swimming on top of other teammates but I don’t think I stopped laughing for one minute that session. I’ll always remember that day, I loved it.
What if your favourite 26 related memory?
My favorite 26 related memory was the day I got admitted to my university. I remember I had calculated when the results were supposed to come out and it was supposed to be either during Redhill on Saturday or right before the Open Water swim session. So it came out right before the Open Water session and I told everyone to go away because it’d be super embarrassing if I got rejected with the entire team right there. I actually was so nervous I couldn’t type in my username and password to access the portal so my teammate Boet had to do it all for me. He actually was also the one that opened the letter for me and told me I got in. I turned around expecting none of my teammates to be there because I had told all of them to go away. But they were all standing in the water jumping up and down and cheering me on. I’m so grateful they didn’t listen to me and were able to share that memory with me. I’m never going to forget that day.
What advice would you give to current 26 athletes?
So I have two! First, always do that rehab!!! It may seem trivial at the time, but it will always help you out in the end. Being a good athlete isn’t just about performing well in races and at training. It’s also about doing the little things like rolling, stretching and doing the rehab you are supposed to do. Because at the end of the day, they all add up and help you become a stronger and more consistent athlete.
Second, be happy for your teammates successes. I know it can get pretty competitive when you’re around each other all the time and sometimes competing in the same races. But always remember to be happy for their successes, even when you don’t get the result you yourself expected. Because at the end of the day, you’re a team and you’re there to push one another so that you can all be stronger. Their successes will probably contribute to yours down the road. And my final, final small piece of advice: always thank your coaches!! I promise I wasn’t bribed to say this one. I know in the moment, especially midway through a hard session it can be hard to thank them, but they really go above and beyond in so many ways and do way more than you realize behind the scenes. They will always be in your corner so don’t forget to pause sometimes and say thank you.
