The Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) held its annual awards night this week, where the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Lawrence Wong, was on-hand to present honors to those athletes, coaches, technical officials and volunteers who have made a positive impact within the Association for the previous year.
University of Texas swimmer Joseph Schooling was named the Singapore Swimming Association’s “Swimmer of the Year” for his tremendous break-out year in 2014. At the Commonwealth Games last July, Schooling brought home a silver medal in the 100m butterfly event in national-record-setting style. This marked Singapore’s first-ever swimming medal at a Commonwealth Games. Schooling followed the performance up with a stellar Asian Games in September 2014, where he earned a gold, silver, and bronze in the 100m butterfly, 50m butterfly and 200m butterfly events, respectively. Again, Schooling made history by earning the first gold medal by a Singaporean male swimmer in 32 years.
From a recorded message sent from Texas, Schooling accepted the SSA’s award saying “2014 was really a successful year for me. I am lucky and fortunate to have done well, winning a number of medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Incheon Asian Games.” He continued, “Now my attention is on the SEA Games and I am excited. Since I was a kid, I wanted to perform in front of my home crowd, having thousands of people cheering me on. I am looking forward to the Games.”
Joseph’s coach, Sergio Lopez, was also honored with the SSA’s award for Swimming Coach of the Year for 2014. Regarding his star athlete’s performances, Lopez commented, “It is an honour to be given such an award. I was coaching Joseph when he was in Bolles last year and I was not surprised by his achievements at the Commonwealth and Asian Games. In fact, this award is a justification of the hard work that Joseph and I put in the pool. Joseph is continuing to improve and the sky is the limit for him.”
Singapore Swimming Association Awards Night Award Winners:
Athlete of the Year
Athlete of the Year (Swimming) – Joseph Isaac Schooling
Athlete of the Year (Men’s Water Polo) – Yip Yang
Athlete of the Year (Women’s Water Polo) – Adelyn Yew Yan Xiang
Athlete of the Year (Diving) – Jonathan Chan Fan Keng
Athlete of the Year (Synchronised Swimming) – Stephanie Chen & Crystal Yap
Coach of the Year
Coach of the Year (Swimming) – Sergio López Miró
Coach of the Year (Water Polo) – Lee Sai Meng
Coach of the Year (Diving) – Xu Jie
Coach of the Year (Synchronised Swimming) – Maryna Tsimashenka
Technical Official of the Year
Technical Official of the Year (Swimming) – Tina Ong
Technical Official of the Year (Water Polo) – Toh Wai Keng Edmund
Technical Official of the Year (Diving) – Ng Ping Ding
Technical Official of the Year (Synchronised Swimming) – Steve Chew
Would like to enrol my nephew Nicholas Tan Jun En 12 yrs he just finished his stage 6 two months ago and got his lifesaving 1 cert, currently is still training for lifesaving 2. Will SSA take him and train him for future sea game.
My daughter is the current Indian national champiion the age category under 12yrs. She is 5 foot 9 inches and we are looking for furthering her swimming skills at an elite level of training. Should you be able to help kindly get back
Many thanks in advance