By Nurul Iman (25S03C) and M.B. Dharshni (25S03O)
Photographs courtesy of Raffles Photographic Society
There is no backstroke in teamwork, only forward motion!
In each race and each lane, only one swimmer is swimming per team.
So swimming should be classified as an individual sport, right? You would think so, but that’s not it at all!
Hard Work Paid Off
This year, the RI Swim Team gained not one but two championship titles under their belt – each in the boys’ and girls’ categories. The team had poured blood, sweat and tears into their training. Some may think that watching their teammates race and cheering each other on during competition were the only ways teamwork was fostered in swimming, but that is not true! The point system used in the NSG pushed the swimmers to swim for the team instead of themselves. All their collective efforts were what got them their double championships, and they are all closer to it.
One Team Raffles
The RI Swim Team displayed true Rafflesian spirit, fighting against the tide to keep our colours flying.
Xie Yifa (25S06R) and Zhu Zhiyun, members of the Water Polo team, swam in the 100-metre butterfly event–competing with a team both hardly knew. Liew Kate Lynn (25S06O) and Caryl Lim Yue Lee (25S06E) were part of the Methodist Girls’ School swim team in B Division, which happened to be one of Raffles Girls School’s strongest competitors. Before her two races in the finals, Kate Lynn shared that she was worried about her performance and that being in a new team with her old rivals was scary (slightly contributing to her nervousness). However, she said that the team had welcomed her warmly and she had been looking forward to winning the championship with this team.
Not really [any regrets], I think as a team overall we executed every part of our race really well and I think we strategised really well to ensure we get the most points compared to our competitors.
Ying Jie, 24S03M, the girls’ team Vice Captain.
100-metre Butterfly event
In the boys’ category, Lachlan Goh (24S06L) came in second place, closely followed by Rahul Shah (25S03P) in third place, as well as Jerome Thio (24S03N) in seventh place and Xie Yifa (25S06R) in ninth place. In the girls’ category, Liew Kate Lynn (25S06O) achieved her target placing in third place, followed by Henriette Tjan (24S03M) in fifth place and Zhu Zhiyun (25S03E) in sixth place.
100-metre Freestyle event
In the boys’ category, Marcus Ong (24S03N) clinched first-place. He shared the podium with Lucas Seah (24S03H) in second place and Nathan Lim (25S06F) in fourth place. Joseph Lee (25SO6G) came in close behind them in sixth place. In the girls’ category, Klaire Ho (25S03C) took second place with Liew Kate Lynn (25S6O) coming in third. They were followed by Reanne Tan (25S03I) in seventh place.
50 metre Breaststroke event
In the boys’ category, Marcus Choo (25S06R), Ethan Tay (25S03A) and Reyes Ng (25S06B) shared the podium, coming in second, third and fourth places respectively. The girls also shared the podium with Phoebe Ng (25S06B), Ricole Ong (24S03E), Jesslyn Goh (25S07A) and Kym Yong (24S03J) coming in second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Freestyle Relay event
The boy’s team performed swimmingly (as described by one of the spectators), leaving the competition a jaw-dropping distance behind. It’s safe to say the girls did just as well with their toe-curling, hair-standing, teeth-gritting close finish. Both teams snatched first place, thanks to their teamwork and dedication.
I think we are quite happy with our performance because [for] the girls, we managed to retain our position as champions and for the boys, we’re happy that we were finally able to come in as champions after a long while. So I think we are quite satisfied overall.
Yeann Yeoh, 24S03O, Girls’ Team Captain.
